Cold and snow
What are the risks?
Cold and snow can have a vast impact on day to day life, through issues such as; school closures, disruption to transport or potential disruption to utilities. These can all to lead problems with people being able to get to work and run businesses and keep critical services running.
Severe cold and snow is considered to have occurred when:
- Multiple areas within the UK have been affected by heavy snowfall
- Snow fall occurs for at least seven consecutive days
- Temperatures are -3°C or less for seven consecutive days
Cold weather would affect the most vulnerable in the community, such as,
the elderly and people with underlying health issues and increase the numbers of injuries as a result of trips and falls
3 ways you can
Prepare for cold and snow
1
Stay informed – look at the weather forecast to find out if snow is predicted
2
Do not travel if snow is predicted/already started fall; if travelling is necessary take
blankets, suitable walking footwear and water
3
If possible, organise working from home if transport is disrupted
Cold and snow
How your Local Resilience Forum is reducing risk?
There have been incidents over the last ten years where there has been snow, though not for as long as this risk envisages. Partner agencies have come together after each of these snow events and identify lessons to make changes to our arrangements.
We have worked with the Met Office to identify early triggers of snow impacts, so multi-agency partners can talk together as early as possible. Forecasts are getting progressively better so partners can often talk together a few days prior to a forecast event.
As the largest impacts are to the health of people, NHS England lead on this risk and ensure all partners; including Police, Fire, Ambulance, Local Authorities and others, are aware of the risk and the arrangements if snow and cold weather is forecast
