Overview

• Arctic air has caused temperatures to plunge across the UK and US, with warnings of heavy snow in northern areas, especially Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• UK Health Security Agency has issued a Cold-Health Alert, warning of possible impacts for the health and social care sector.
• Thousands of households in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.
• In the US, record-breaking cold temperatures have been reported, with nearly 80% of the country seeing below-freezing temperatures over the next week.
• Travel disruptions are widespread, with warnings of hazardous road conditions, flight cancellations, and train delays.