Low temperatures and snow are forecast for Leigh and surrounding areas this weekend.
It looks like we'll be ringing in the New Year with snow, as cold temperatures are forecast and health alerts are issued across the North West.
According to BBC Weather, 2026 will start off chilly, with temperatures dropping to below freezing from Friday 2nd, with snowy showers expected over Leigh and its surrounding boroughs in the week following.
This comes as an amber health alert was issued for the North West, with temperatures expected to hit -2C in the region.
The alert, issued by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) came into place at 8pm last night, Sunday, and will last until 12pm on January 5.
The UKHSA has warned that the drop in temperatures is "likely" to bring a significant impact across health services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
The low temperatures may also impact younger people, with the agency predicting an increased demand for health services across the region.
Other challenges brought about by the change in weather may include:
- Temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks
- Challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people
- Staffing issues due to external factors, such as travel delays
- Other sectors starting to observe impacts, such as transport and energy
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