An amber cold-health alert has been issued for the North West, including Lancashire, by the UKHSA ahead of forecast weather that is likely to cause 'significant impacts across health and social care services'.

The cold-health alert will now remain in place until 10am on Monday, January 12th, 2026.

The Met Office said the final days of 2025 will not be “particularly fantastic”, with temperatures of 7-8C, but things will take a turn as 2026 arrives.

Lancashire is expected to bear the brunt of the chillier conditions from January 1 onwards, with brisk winds bringing increasingly wintry showers to the north as the week progresses.

Forecaster Dan Stroud said: “We’re losing this sort of settled but chilly conditions and bringing in something a little bit more showery with more wintry hazards in the forecast, particularly for the north of the country.”

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: "As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says an amber alert means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.