London is among the regions covered by the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) alert, which also applies to the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The alert comes into force at 8pm today (December 28) and remains in place until 12pm on January 5 2026. The UKHSA said the cold conditions could trigger a rise in deaths, especially among older adults and those with existing health issues. There may also be increased demand on health services and difficulties maintaining indoor temperatures at the advised 18°C, posing further risks to public health. The alert comes as the UK enters the new year with colder weather expected to settle in during the opening days of 2026.

Source: The Times December 28, 2025 15:41 UTC