Yellow cold health alert sounded for North East next week

The Government has warned that colder weather next week is likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services across the region. 

This includes a greater risk to life for vulnerable people and an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people. 

The alert has been issued from November 17 at 9pm until November 21 at 9am.

It comes as the region braces for a winter blast early next week, with the Met Office forecasting rain, sleet, and snow on Monday and Tuesday (November 18 and 19). 

The forecaster has stated that there is a high chance of snow settling on higher ground - but less of a chance that it would cause disruption at lower levels.

The forecast for Darlington currently does not have any direct snow forecast - but there is a high chance of rain with temperatures set to feel as low as -3C.

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The Met Office said: "Spells of rain, sleet, and snow are likely during Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning.

"The most likely scenario is for most of the snow to fall on high ground, with 5 to 10 cm possible above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 15 to 20 cm above 400 metres.

"There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10 cm would prove much more disruptive, but this is very uncertain."