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Cold health alerts are issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in conjunction with the Met Office.

Cold health alerts are separate to weather warnings, which are issued solely by the Met Office and warn of risks to infrastructure and the type of weather expected.

They use a colour-coded system whereby green represents the least risk and red the highest.

Green: Average temperatures are more than 2C (35F) and minimal health impacts are expected.

Yellow: Average temperatures are 2C or less for 48 hours or more. Conditions are unlikely to affect the general population but vulnerable groups may struggle. Yellow alerts may also be issued if confidence in weather forecasts is low but the situation may pose risks if the worst case scenarios are realised.

Amber: Average temperatures are below 2C for five days – or below 0C (32F) for 48 hours or more. Effects are likely to be felt across the population, the entire health service and other sectors.

Red: Averages temperature are below 0C for five days – or below -2C (28F) for 48 hours or more. Significant risk to life expected for even the healthy population and severe impacts for the health service and most sectors.