The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold-weather alert for south-west England from 18:00 on Christmas Day until noon on 27 December, citing increased risks to vulnerable people and possible strain on health and social-care services. The Met Office forecasts bright but cold conditions, with gusty easterly winds along the south coast.
While snow is ‘highly unlikely’, the RAC expects the lion’s share of festive getaway traffic to cluster between 13:00 and 19:00 on 24 December. Analysts warn that sub-zero overnight temperatures could turn post-Christmas return journeys treacherous, especially on untreated minor roads leading to key arterial routes such as the M5 and A14.
Global-mobility teams moving assignees to rural client sites should check that company vehicles are equipped with cold-weather tyres and emergency kits. HR departments may also need to adjust duty-of-care protocols: under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must account for extreme travel conditions when asking employees to drive long distances.
![Cold-Weather Health Alert Adds Road-Traffic Warnings for Christmas Eve Peak]()
Should any travellers find that last-minute route changes push them through airports requiring extra documentation, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The firm’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) and London support team can secure visas quickly for more than 200 destinations, giving both HR managers and individual passengers one less cold-weather headache to worry about.
Transport operators are on standby to grit runways and de-ice rolling stock, but previous years show Boxing-Day ice can still trigger surprise cancellations. Travellers holding non-refundable rail tickets should therefore download their operator’s compensation app in advance to speed up refund claims.
The UKHSA says it will review the alert at noon on 26 December if temperatures moderate sooner than expected.
While snow is ‘highly unlikely’, the RAC expects the lion’s share of festive getaway traffic to cluster between 13:00 and 19:00 on 24 December. Analysts warn that sub-zero overnight temperatures could turn post-Christmas return journeys treacherous, especially on untreated minor roads leading to key arterial routes such as the M5 and A14.
Global-mobility teams moving assignees to rural client sites should check that company vehicles are equipped with cold-weather tyres and emergency kits. HR departments may also need to adjust duty-of-care protocols: under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must account for extreme travel conditions when asking employees to drive long distances.
Should any travellers find that last-minute route changes push them through airports requiring extra documentation, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The firm’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) and London support team can secure visas quickly for more than 200 destinations, giving both HR managers and individual passengers one less cold-weather headache to worry about.
Transport operators are on standby to grit runways and de-ice rolling stock, but previous years show Boxing-Day ice can still trigger surprise cancellations. Travellers holding non-refundable rail tickets should therefore download their operator’s compensation app in advance to speed up refund claims.
The UKHSA says it will review the alert at noon on 26 December if temperatures moderate sooner than expected.
