UK weather: Amber cold health alerts to last for DAYS with warning of ‘rise in deaths’ and 50 flooding alerts in force

AMBER cold weather health alerts will last for days, meaning a 'rise in deaths' is likely, while 50 flood alerts have been put in force.

Flood warnings have been issued in Western Scotland, as outbreaks of rain are forecast in the new week.

The North and South of England are also at risk of property and road flooding, which could cause travel disruption in the coming days.

Amber cold weather alerts will last for days with freezing temperatures remaining across East Anglia, Vale of York and Lincolnshire.

Temperatures dropped to -18.7°C in the UK's coldest January night in 15 years as the wintry weather continues.

Altnaharra, which is in the most northern region of the Highlands, recorded -18.7°C on Friday night, the Met Office said.

It is the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010, when temperatures dropped below -15°C several times at locations across the UK, including -22.3°C on January 8 in Altnaharra.

Much of the UK endured below-freezing temperatures overnight, with temperatures dropping to -11°C in Shap, Cumbria, and Heathrow recording -5°C.

The average low in northern Scotland for this time of year is about 0.3°C, while for England, overnight lows are about 1.5°C to 1.6°C.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Tuesday.

Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 14, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely, the agency said.

Run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, the system was introduced in June 2023.

While yellow alerts are issued during periods of cold weather that pose a risk to elderly people or those with serious health conditions, amber alerts are put in place when a wider impact is expected.

Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin said Saturday is forecast to be cold too, with temperatures expected to drop widely to below freezing overnight in eastern areas.

She said: "So another chilly night to come on Saturday, but then as we go into Sunday and into Monday, then we can start to expect temperatures to recover somewhat.

"I won't rule out the risk of seeing something around or just below freezing again on Sunday night into Monday, but it won't be quite so dramatic as the temperatures that we're going to experience as we go overnight tonight."

Looking ahead to next week, she said: "We're saying it's getting milder but by no stretch does that mean (temperatures) are going to be above average, it just will feel comparatively much more pleasant than it is at the moment."

The UK has experienced a "particularly long cold spell", she said.

She added: "It has been getting progressively colder each night this week, whereas looking at previous years, we've had maybe two or three days where things have been particularly cold."

FA Cup fixtures up and down the country are under threat as the big freeze continues.

Two third round clashes have already postponed, with Preston's meeting with Charlton and Mansfield vs Wigan both called off due to a frozen pitch.

Multiple matches in the EFL and non-League have also fallen victim to the freezing temperatures as many clubs prepare for a weekend with no football on show.

Meanwhile the network operator said Britain has enough gas following warnings that stores are at "concerningly low" levels.

National Gas said on Friday that supplies remain "healthy" and that Britain is "well-placed" to respond to demands this winter.

It added that gas stocks kept at the UK's storage sites are well-above half full.

Energy giant Centrica said UK supplies have fallen to "concerningly low" levels with less than a week's worth of demand for gas in store.

Stocks were 26 per cent lower than the same period last year, leaving them about half full, it claimed.

A National Gas spokesperson said: "The overall picture across Great Britain's eight main gas storage sites remains healthy.

"Britain obtains its gas from a diverse range of sources beyond that already in storage, meaning we are well placed to respond to demand this winter."

Gas inventory levels have come under pressure from the cold weather conditions and the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine at the end of last month.

Natural gas accounted for 53 per cent of power in the UK on Friday, according to National Grid data, with renewables meeting just 16 per cent of the country's needs.

The UK has among the smallest amount of gas storage of any major European countries with capacity to hold enough gas for 12 average days or 7.5 peak winter days.

Germany has enough for 89 days, France has 103 days and the Netherlands 123 days.

Centrica boss Chris O'Shea said storage levels are "concerningly low".

He said the clean energy transition would mean the UK needs to use more energy storage systems to help meet demand.