UK Cold Weather Warning: Current Alerts, Forecasts & Records

When the temperature plunges and frost settles across the landscape, the UK’s cold weather warning system becomes a vital tool for staying safe. With a yellow cold health alert now in effect for much of England, we look at what the latest forecasts mean, how the system works, and what history tells us about the coldest days on record — including the UK’s all-time low of -27.2°C.

Current cold health alert: Yellow (England except London and South East, Feb 2026) · Lowest recorded UK temperature: -27.2°C (Braemar, 1982) · Cold health alert season: 1 November – 31 March · Number of cold health alerts in 2026: 1 (as of Feb 17) · Snow forecast: Possible for Wales and Midlands (Feb 2026)

The table below captures the essential data points that define the current cold weather warning system.

What is the UK cold weather warning today?

What areas are currently under a cold health alert?

• A yellow Cold-Health Alert covers all regions of England except London and the South East (GOV.UK / UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency)).
• Separate yellow alerts have been issued for the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and East Midlands from 6am on 13 February to 8am on 16 February 2026 (GOV.UK / UKHSA).
• Met Office forecasters expect snow to fall across Wales and the Midlands, with Arctic air bringing widespread hard frosts (Met Office (UK’s national weather service)).

How long will the current warning last?

• The alert effective from 18:00 Tuesday 17 February 2026 is set to remain until 18:00 Friday 20 February 2026 (GOV.UK / UKHSA).
• Cold conditions were expected to last well into the first week of January 2026, according to earlier Met Office forecasts (Met Office).
• Ice patches are possible across parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, and central England (Met Office).

What is the difference between a yellow and amber cold alert?

• Yellow: minor health risks for vulnerable groups; people are advised to take precautions.
• Amber: significant impacts expected, with increased risk for the elderly and those with health conditions.
• In November 2025, UKHSA issued an amber Cold-Health Alert for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber (Wikipedia (community-maintained encyclopedia)).

Where is Storm Claudia going to hit in the UK?

What areas will experience the most rain?

• Storm Claudia brought intense rain to England and Wales, with the Met Office warning of a major weather change after a settled Christmas period (Met Office).
• Flood warnings were in place for multiple regions as heavy rain fell on already saturated ground.
• The storm was part of a wider pattern of Arctic air moving in, bringing both rain and snow (Met Office forecast republished on Dailymotion).

How strong are the winds expected to be?

• Wind speeds from Storm Claudia were not extreme, but the storm’s main hazard was rainfall intensity rather than wind.
• Later in the season, Storm Amy — the first named storm of 2025/26 — brought stronger winds, but its exact track remains uncertain (Wikipedia).

Is Storm Claudia hitting Ireland as well?

• Met Office forecasts indicated ice patches were possible across Northern Ireland (Met Office), but Storm Claudia’s primary impact was on England and Wales.
• The probability of snow in Ireland in 2026 is not clearly forecast from available data.

Is winter 25-26 going to be cold in the UK?

What do long-range forecasts predict?

• Wikipedia’s winter summary notes that the 2025–26 season has been marked by early cold health alerts, including an amber alert in November 2025 (Wikipedia (community-maintained encyclopedia)).
• Some analysts have called it “UK’s Coldest Season Ahead?” but no official long-range Met Office forecast confirms that status.
• The influence of climate patterns like El Niño remains unclear for this winter.

How does this compare to recent winters?

• Winter 2024–25 was relatively mild, so this season’s multiple cold health alerts mark a return to more typical chilly conditions.
• Met Office forecasts indicate this winter could be the coldest in several years, but exact comparisons require seasonal data after March (Met Office).

Will there be more snow than usual?

• Snow is expected in Wales and the Midlands under the current alert (GOV.UK / UKHSA).
• Significant snow could build up across Scotland, according to earlier Met Office warnings (Met Office).
• Snowfall amounts are uncertain; much depends on the exact track of low-pressure systems in February and March.

“The snow and ice warning covered much of northern Scotland through Wednesday until Friday.”

— Met Office forecast republished on Dailymotion (Met Office forecast)

What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK?

Where and when was the record set?

• The official lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK is -27.2°C, measured at Braemar in Aberdeenshire on 11 February 1982 (Met Office (UK’s national weather service)).
• This tied the previous record set at Braemar on 10 January 1982.

Why is -27.2°C the official lowest?

• Other readings, such as -23°C at Shawbury, are notable but lower than the official extreme.
• The Met Office recognises the Braemar recording because it was made at a recognised station with verified instruments.
• Winter 1981–82 was exceptionally cold across the UK, with widespread snow and ice lasting weeks.

Are there other notable cold records?

• The lowest temperature in Scotland: -27.2°C (same as UK record).
• The lowest in England: -26.1°C at Newport, Shropshire, in 1982.
• The lowest in Wales: -23.3°C at Rhayader, Powys, in 1940.
• These records illustrate that severe cold is possible even in a maritime climate.

What areas will be underwater in 2050 in the UK?

Which coastal regions are most at risk?

• Climate projections indicate that parts of eastern England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, face increased flood risk due to sea level rise.
• The GMA map (Good Morning America feature) highlighted areas like Hull, Portsmouth, and parts of London as potentially underwater by 2050 without mitigation.
• These projections are based on high-emission scenarios and remain uncertain.

How does sea level rise relate to cold weather warnings?

• While not directly linked, climate change amplifies storm surges that can coincide with cold spells, increasing the threat of coastal flooding during winter storms.
• Storm Claudia’s heavy rain already triggered flood warnings in England and Wales.

What are the predictions from the GMA map?

• The GMA map projected significant inundation for low-lying areas in the UK by 2050 if carbon emissions continue unchecked.
• Experts caution that these maps are illustrative: actual outcomes depend on global mitigation, local defences, and natural variability.

Timeline: UK cold weather events and alerts

• November 1982 – UK’s lowest recorded temperature of -27.2°C at Braemar (Met Office)
• 1 November 2025 – Start of 2025/26 cold health alert season
• 17 November 2025 – UKHSA issues amber Cold-Health Alert for northern England; yellow for rest of England (Wikipedia)
• December 2025 – Storm Amy named (first storm of season) (Wikipedia)
• 30–31 December 2025 – Met Office forecasts Arctic air arriving, snow for Scotland and eastern England (Met Office forecast)
• 8 January 2026 – UKHSA issues yellow Cold-Health Alert for England (excl. London & SE) (GOV.UK / UKHSA)
• 13–16 February 2026 – Separate yellow alert for North, Midlands (GOV.UK / UKHSA)
• 17–20 February 2026 – Yellow cold health alert for most of England; snow forecast for Wales, Midlands (GOV.UK / UKHSA)

Clarity: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Yellow cold health alert in effect as of 18:00 Tuesday 17 February 2026 for most of England (GOV.UK / UKHSA)
• Lowest UK temperature: -27.2°C at Braemar (1982) (Met Office)
• Cold health alert season: 1 November to 31 March (GOV.UK / UKHSA)
• Storm Claudia brought intense rain to England and Wales (Met Office)
• Storm Amy is the first named storm of 2025/26 season (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Whether winter 2025/2026 will be the coldest on record
• Exact track of Storm Amy’s impact on UK
• Precise areas under water by 2050 depend on mitigation efforts
• Probability of snow in Ireland in 2026
• Whether snowfall amounts will exceed typical winter patterns

“The Cold-Health Alerts focus on the season between 1st November to 31st March every year.”

— Met Office (via cold-health alerts page) (Met Office)

“A cold health alert has been issued across much of England, as forecasters predict snow could hit parts of Wales and the Midlands.”

— Sky News article (paraphrased from content plan)

What this all means for you

The UK’s cold weather warning system is more than a colour code — it’s a practical signal for heating, travel, and health. This winter has already seen multiple alerts, a major storm, and the prospect of more snow. The cold health alert dashboard (UKHSA dashboard (government data portal)) offers live updates. For residents in affected areas, the choice is clear: prepare now for cold nights, check on vulnerable neighbours, and plan for possible travel disruption, or risk the consequences of being caught out by a sudden freeze.

Meteorologer följer noggrant den senaste snövarningen i East Grinstead, som är en del av de bredare kalla vädervarningarna i Storbritannien.

Frequently asked questions

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