The Met Office has issued a rare level 3 amber weather alert as they are warning that temperatures will plummet.
Day time temperatures will be hovering around freezing over the next few days and the weather warning is in place for most of England and there is a 90% chance of icy conditions between 6pm on 7 December until 9am on 12 December.
The Met Office warned, “This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.”
The weather warning added, “Rather cold conditions are expected to turn colder across much of the UK later Wednesday and through Thursday as air from the Arctic spreads south across the country.
“Very cold nights are expected, with widespread frosts and potentially severe frosts.
“Daytime temperatures persisting near or just above freezing, with overnight temperatures continuing to trend downwards.
“Wintry showers are also likely to affect some coasts, perhaps pushing into some inland areas at times, bringing a risk of icy patches.”
The alert added, “Avoid exposing yourself to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls and stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts on the Met Office website.”
The Met Office said there is an emphasis on protecting vulnerable and elderly people, saying, “Cold temperatures have an impact on our health, but there are other risks in winter including physical injuries from slips, trips and falls.
“As we get older it becomes harder for our bodies to detect how cold we are, and it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for our health.
“For older people in particular, the longer the exposure to the cold, the more risk of heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, depression, worsening arthritis and increased accidents at home (associated with loss of strength and dexterity in the hands).”
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