The UKHSA Weather Health Alert System
The Winter Health alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
The Weather health alerting system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. It's intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The Weather health alerting system is made up of the Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) and Cold-Health Alerts (CHA). The Weather health alerting system underpins the Adverse Weather and Health Plan.
The core alerting season for the HHA runs from 1 June to 30 September, with the core alerting season for CHA running from 1 November to 31 March. Should a period of heat or cold occur that meets alerting criteria outside of the core alerting periods, an extraordinary alert will be issued.
The WHA system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. When adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population, this alerting system is intended to provide early warning to:
- the health and social care sector
- the responder community
- the voluntary and community sector
- government departments
The WHA system underpins the Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP). The WHA system consists of Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) which operate from 1 June to 30 September each year and Cold-Health Alerts (CHA) which operate from 1 November to 30 March every year. An out-of-season alert may still be issued if impacts from adverse weather on health (heat or cold) are expected.
In line with other weather warning systems in operation within England (and the UK), WHAs are issued when the weather conditions have the potential to impact the health and wellbeing of the population.
The alerts are given a colour (yellow, amber or red) based on the combination of the impact the weather conditions could have, and the likelihood of those impacts being realised. These assessments are made in partnership with the Met Office when adverse weather conditions are indicated within the forecast.
Figure 1. Colour system for the Weather-Health Alerting system
- Green (preparedness) - no alert is issued as the conditions are likely to have minimal impact on health; business as usual; summer or winter planning and preparedness activities
- Yellow (response) - these alerts cover a range of situations; yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat or cold that would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable
- Amber (enhanced response) - an amber alert indicates that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk; non-health sectors may also start to observe impacts and a more significant coordinated response may be required
- Red (emergency response) - a red alert indicates significant risk to life for even the healthy population
Heat health alerts
The alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
The Weather health alerting system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. It's intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The Weather health alerting system is made up of the Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) and Cold-Health Alerts (CHA). The Weather health alerting system underpins the Adverse Weather and Health Plan.
The Heat-health alerting systems core alerting seasons runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. However should an episode of heat occur outside of this core period, an extraordinary alert will be issued. Make sure you are registered to receive the alerts directly by email by completing the registration form.
Cold health alerts
The alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
The Weather health alerting system is provided by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in partnership with the Met Office. It's intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The Weather health alerting system is made up of the Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) and Cold-Health Alerts (CHA). The Weather health alerting system underpins the Adverse Weather and Health Plan.
The Cold-health alerting systems core alerting seasons runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. However should an episode of cold occur outside of this core period, an extraordinary alert will be issued. Make sure you are registered to receive the alerts directly by email by completing the registration form.
For further advice & to download copies of: -
- UKHSA Adverse wather & alerts plan - CLICK HERE
- Weather Health System User guide - CLICK HERE
- National Heat wave plan - CLICK HERE
- National Cold Weather Plan - CLICK HERE
