Heavy snow showers are coming to parts of the UK as a weather warning has been issued by the Met Office.

A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for parts of Scotland from 6am on New Year’s Day until midnight on January 2.

It comes as an orange cold health alert has been issued for the north east and north west of England, which is expected to remain in force until midday on January 5, with temperatures expected to drop to 3-5C.

The Met Office said the yellow warning for snow and ice means “frequent and heavy snow showers may cause travel disruption”.

By Friday morning the Met Office is forecasting 2-5cm of snow, with 10cm in some local areas and 10-20cm in some areas above 200m.

On higher roads and hills, 30 cm or more could form during this period, the forecaster added.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has issued the Amber Alert, saying this means the weather conditions are “likely” to have significant consequences for health and social care services, including an “increase in deaths” among people with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Temperatures elsewhere are expected to be 4-6C from New Year’s Day and a yellow health alert is in place.

The Met Office said the final days of 2025 won’t be “particularly fantastic”, with temperatures of 7-8C, but things will take a turn as we approach 2026.

Northern areas of the country are expected to bear the brunt of the colder conditions from January 1, with strong winds bringing more wintry showers north as the week progresses.

Forecaster Dan Stroud said: “We’re losing those sort of stable but cold conditions and introducing something a little wetter with more wintry risks into the forecast, particularly for the north of the country. »

Colder conditions and winter risks will develop more widely in the new year, with more snow and icy warnings likely, the Met Office said.

Mark Sidaway, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “It certainly looks like we are getting a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome the new year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.

“Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will be particularly cold if there are strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of winter for many.

“A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for the north of Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may cause travel disruption.

“These colder conditions and winter hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we move into the new year, with more snow and ice warnings likely. It looks like this cold spell will last at least until the first week of January, so it’s important that people stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings.”

The UKHSA said the UK could also see “impacts on young people” and there is likely to be an “increase in demand for health services” in the regions.

Other impacts include “indoor temperatures in places like hospitals and care homes falling below recommended levels to assess health risks”, and “challenges in maintaining indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C, leading to increased risk for vulnerable people”, UKHSA said.

He also warned of staffing problems due to external factors such as travel delays, and said other sectors, such as transport and energy, could start to feel the impacts.

The agency has issued a yellow cold health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and London.

A yellow alert means there is potential for significant impacts.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “As colder weather sets in, it is vital to check in on our most vulnerable friends, family and neighbors.

“Forecast temperatures may have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and lung infection, particularly in people over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”

Caroline Abrahams, director of the charity Age UK, urged older people to take care during the cold season.

She said: “After a mild start to winter, it looks like very cold weather is about to set in, with snow forecast in some parts of the country and freezing temperatures expected everywhere.

“These conditions are potentially dangerous for older people, especially if they are living with serious health conditions like cancer, are already ill for another reason, or are generally frail. »

The Alzheimer’s Society said people with dementia may have difficulty adjusting to colder temperatures and may not recognize that they are cold or be able to communicate it.

The charity urged people to check on their relatives, friends and neighbors with dementia to make sure they are dressed appropriately, in a warm room and eating, drinking and moving regularly.

Making the most of natural daylight, sticking to a routine and encouraging smaller, slower steps in slippery conditions can also help keep them safe, the association said.