First cold health alert of the winter is on for us until Saturday dinner time, so look in on your neighbours First yellow cold health alert of the winter covers Cumbria until Saturday lunchtime
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
It's the first cold health alert of the winter and it covers us from 9am today until midday Saturday. If you've got an older neighbour or a relative with a bad chest, give them a knock.
This one's for anyone who feels the cold more than most: older folk, people with heart trouble or a bad chest, and whoever keeps an eye on them.
The UK Health Security Agency has put out a yellow cold health alert for the North West, which includes us, and the West Midlands. It runs from 9am today, Thursday 12 November, until 12pm on Saturday 14 November. It's the first one of the winter.
Yellow means the cold could hit vulnerable people and put a bit more pressure on the NHS and care services. It's a health alert, not a Met Office weather warning, so it's not about travel. The people most at risk are over-65s and anyone with an existing condition, especially heart and lung problems.
Dr Anya Gopfert from UKHSA said: "This is the first cold health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season."
She also said: "Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable."
The forecast is clear and nippy: around 6C in the day at Carlisle and down to about -1C overnight, colder up on the fells. The council's gritters are already out on the main routes.
The usual advice from UKHSA: heat the rooms you actually use, wear a few thin layers, keep moving if you can, and don't run out of your tablets.
What to do: the alert's on the UKHSA data dashboard's cold health alerts page. Give an older neighbour a knock. If heating the house is a struggle, Cumberland Council's cost of living and Winter Warmth pages have local help. Feeling rough? NHS 111.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold health alert for the North West and West Midlands from 9am today, Thursday 12 November, until 12pm on Saturday 14 November. Older people and those with heart or lung conditions are most at risk.
This is for older people, anyone with a heart or lung condition, and the families, neighbours and carers who look out for them across West Cumbria.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health alert for the North West and the West Midlands, running from 9am today, Thursday 12 November, until 12pm on Saturday 14 November. It is the first cold health alert of the 2026 to 2027 winter.
A yellow alert means the cold could affect people who are vulnerable and may increase demand on health and social care services. It is a health alert, not a Met Office weather warning. People aged 65 and over and those with existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, are considered most at risk.
Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: "This is the first cold health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season."
She said: "Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable."
Forecasts for Cumbria show clear, cold conditions, with temperatures in Carlisle reaching around 6C by day and falling to about -1C overnight, and colder on the fells. Cumberland Council's gritters are already out on priority routes.
UKHSA's general advice is to heat the rooms you use most, wear several thin layers, keep moving where you can, and keep up with medicines.
What you can do: check the current alert on the UKHSA data dashboard's cold health alerts page. Look in on older or unwell neighbours. If you are struggling to heat your home, Cumberland Council's cost of living and Winter Warmth pages list local help. For urgent health advice, use NHS 111.