Cold-Health Alerts and staying safe in cold weather
What the UKHSA Cold-Health Alert colours mean, who's most at risk in cold weather, and the practical, sourced steps to keep a household warm and well.
By Tom Rowland · Updated 20 July 2026 · Sourced to UKHSA, the Met Office & the NHS
What a Cold-Health Alert is
When cold weather is likely to affect people's health, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues a Cold-Health Alert through its Weather-Health Alerting system, run in partnership with the Met Office. It's a warning aimed primarily at the health and social care sector, but it's public — you can register to receive the alerts by email — and it's a useful signal for anyone caring for someone vulnerable.
These alerts replaced the old numeric 'Cold Weather Plan' levels from winter 2023/24, so if you remember 'Level 2' and 'Level 3' warnings, the colour system is what took their place.
What the colours mean
The system uses four colours based on both the likely health impact and how likely it is. Green means no alert — minimal health impact. Yellow covers conditions unlikely to affect most people but which could affect the particularly vulnerable. Amber signals impacts likely to be felt across the whole health service, with the potential for the whole population to be at risk. Red is the most serious: a significant risk to life even for healthy people.
The core alert season runs from 1 November to 31 March, with planning bulletins issued every Monday and Friday. The service currently operates in England. It's separate from the Met Office's severe weather warnings, which cover storms and snow for the general public — the health alerts focus specifically on the health effects of the cold.
Who is most at risk
Cold weather doesn't affect everyone equally. The NHS lists those most vulnerable as people aged 65 and over, babies and children under five, people on a low income, and those with a long-term health condition, a disability, or a mental-health condition, as well as pregnant women. Cold homes are linked to serious problems including heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression — this is a genuine health issue, not just discomfort.
If that describes you or someone you look out for, an amber or red alert is a prompt to take the steps below seriously and to check in on each other.
The practical steps that keep you well
The NHS advice is straightforward: heat your home to a temperature that's comfortable, and if you can, to at least 18°C in the rooms you use regularly, like the living room and bedroom, keeping bedroom windows closed at night. Wear layers, eat hot meals and have hot drinks. Get your prescription medicines in before bad weather hits. And keep in touch with — and check on — vulnerable friends, neighbours and relatives, who may not ask for help themselves.
The NHS also offers free seasonal vaccines to those who need extra protection each winter — including flu and COVID-19 jabs, a pneumococcal vaccine for over-65s, and an RSV vaccine for pregnant women and older adults — which are part of staying well through the cold months.
If the cold comes with a power cut
Cold snaps and power cuts often arrive together in winter storms, and that's when the vulnerable are most at risk. If you or someone in your household relies on powered medical equipment or heating, sign up to the free Priority Services Register with your energy supplier and network operator for advance warning of planned cuts and priority support.
And keep the safe-warmth basics to hand: blankets, thermal layers, hot water bottles and a way to make a hot drink — never a fuel-burning heater indoors, which risks carbon monoxide.
Common questions
What is a Cold-Health Alert?
A warning issued by UKHSA with the Met Office when cold weather is likely to affect health. It's aimed mainly at health and social care services but is public — you can sign up to receive it — and replaced the old numeric Cold Weather Plan levels from winter 2023/24.
What do the Cold-Health Alert colours mean?
Green means no alert; yellow means the particularly vulnerable could be affected; amber means impacts likely across the whole health service with the whole population potentially at risk; red means a significant risk to life even for healthy people.
Who is most at risk in cold weather?
The NHS lists people aged 65 and over, children under five, those on a low income, and people with a long-term health condition, disability or mental-health condition, as well as pregnant women. Cold homes are linked to heart attacks, strokes and pneumonia.
How warm should I keep my home in winter?
The NHS advises heating your home to a comfortable temperature, and if you can, at least 18°C in the rooms you use regularly such as the living room and bedroom, and keeping bedroom windows closed at night.
How do I get Cold-Health Alerts?
You can register to receive UKHSA's Weather-Health Alerts by email through the GOV.UK alerting system. During the core season (1 November to 31 March) in England, planning bulletins are issued every Monday and Friday.
What if a cold snap brings a power cut?
Sign up to the free Priority Services Register if you rely on powered medical equipment or heating, keep blankets, layers and hot water bottles to hand, and never use a fuel-burning heater indoors because of the carbon monoxide risk.
Sources: GOV.UK — Cold-Health Alerting system: overview (UKHSA) · GOV.UK — Adverse Weather and Health Plan · NHS — Keep warm, keep well. PreparedBritain is independent and not affiliated with HM Government.
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