UK weather live: London hit by wintry showers before Storm Goretti snow warnings strike

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended amber cold health alerts for England as an early warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing, running until Sunday.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in, it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.

“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”

The UK saw the coldest night of the winter so far, as temperatures plummeted to as low as -12.5C in the UK overnight on Monday, following a day of school closures and travel disruption.

The lowest temperature was recorded in Marham, Norfolk, while Santon Downham in Suffolk, and Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, both saw a low of -10C, the Met Office said.

In Scotland, the night was coldest in Dalwhinnie and Tulloch Bridge, where temperatures dropped as low as -11.2C and -10.7C.

An overnight low of -9.6C was recorded in Bala, a market town within Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.

To help support people during cold snaps like what we are currently experiencing, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the cold weather payment scheme for qualifying households. This is a one-off payment of £25 that is triggered for every seven-day period where the temperature in an area is at or below zero degrees.

An estimated 674,000 households across over 441 postcode areas can now expect a payment. These areas are split across the UK, covering northern and southern areas of England and Wales

Here are the the affected postcode areas for the period of 30 December 2025 to 4 January 2026:

Police Scotland said the impact of the snow is likely to be felt over the next few days in the north and north-east of Scotland, urging people to follow travel advice.

Assistant chief constable Alan Waddell said: “Local resilience partnerships are continuing to meet to co-ordinate and deliver the response to disruption experienced by communities in the north and north-east of Scotland following heavy snowfall over the weekend.

“We have been working closely with resilience partners across local authorities, other emergency service partners, transport partners, NHS and health and social care partnerships, and other local organisations to support communities affected by adverse weather and keep public services open where possible.

“Some services may be impacted by adverse weather and I would encourage the public to check on neighbours or relatives, if they are able to do so safely.”

Snowy conditions have disrupted road, air and rail travel across Scotland – with some train lines shut after heavy snow drifted on to the tracks.

In Glasgow, services on the city’s subway network were suspended on Tuesday after ice on the third rail caused a power failure.

Operator SPT said: “Currently both inner and outer circles are suspended and no stations are open.”

National Rail said that train services in northern Scotland will be disrupted until the end of the day on Tuesday, although ScotRail said services on the route between Aberdeen and Dundee would run in the morning.