The Alzheimer’s Society warned that cold weather can be “particularly challenging” for people with dementia.

“Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,” the charity said.

Another charity, Asthma + Lung UK, urged those with lung conditions to be “extra careful”.

The charity warned cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or “flare-ups” for people with other lung conditions.

A yellow warning for snow and ice has also been issued for Northern Ireland from 6pm yesterday to 10am today, with a separate warning also in place across most of Wales and parts of the West Midlands until 10am this morning.

Police in Northern Ireland urged those on the roads to “drive with extra caution while we experience the freezing temperatures as forecast”.

There are also snow and ice warnings in place covering the north of Scotland until 10am today and parts of western Scotland.

The Met Office said cold northerly winds will continue through the week across much of the UK, with further warnings likely.

It added that temperatures were likely to increase from the south-west this weekend, though this will be accompanied by some strong winds and heavy rain.

There are a number of yellow weather warnings in place for snow and ice in place across large swathes of the UK currently.

In northern Scotland, there is a yellow warning for snow and ice in place until 10am on Wednesday.

In western Scotland, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 7pm on Tuesday until 10am on Wednesday.

There is a yellow warning for snow and ice along the east coast of Scotland and England from Berwickshire to Suffolk until midday on Wednesday.

Much of southern England – including London- the Midlands and eastern Wales are also facing yellow warning until 10am on Wednesday.

The majority of Wales and part of the West Midlands are under a yellow weather warning for snow and ice until 10am on Wednesday.

A yellow warning for snow and ice has also been issued for all of Northern Ireland from 6pm on Tuesday to 10am on Wednesday.

The Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice after snowfall led to the closure of more than 140 schools and disrupted travel across parts of the UK.

Six yellow alerts remain active across regions, including Wales, and are expected to persist until Wednesday morning.

Snowfall, which began on Monday night, marked the UK’s “first taste of winter,” according to the Met Office. By Tuesday, heavy snow had left one road completely impassable, while collisions were reported on two others, compounding travel challenges.

The adverse conditions prompted school closures across mid, north-east, and south-east Wales, affecting areas such as Wrexham, Powys, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Torfaen, and Blaenau Gwent.

Local authorities and emergency services continue to monitor the situation, urging caution as icy conditions are expected to persist.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice along the east coast of Scotland and England from Berwickshire to Suffolk from 6pm on Tuesday to midday on Wednesday.

A yellow warning for snow and ice has also been issued for Northern Ireland from 6pm yesterday to 10am this morning, with a separate warning also in place across most of Wales and parts of the West Midlands until 10am on Wednesday.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.

The amber warning covers the east and north of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, with yellow alerts coming into place for the South East, South West and London until 6pm on Saturday.

This comes amid widespread disruption across the UK yesterday, with more than 200 school closures reported by afternoon.

Snowfall was also widely reported, with 12cm of lying snow recorded at Watnall, Nottinghamshire, on Tuesday morning as an Arctic airmass influenced the UK’s weather.

Thousands of train passengers suffered disruption yesterday morning and a Stagecoach bus in Aberdeenshire toppled onto its side with a passenger on board in icy conditions.

The first cold weather payments of 2024 have been triggered as snow blankets neighbourhoods across the UK and temperatures plunge.

To help support people during cold snaps like these, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) runs the cold weather payment scheme for qualifying households.

This is a one-off payment of £25 that is triggered for every seven-day period where the temperature in your area is at or below zero degrees.

An estimated 10,000 people across 18 postcode areas can now expect the payment in the coming weeks.

You are eligible for the payment if you receive Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest

You must also live in an area that has experienced seven days of zero or sub-zero temperatures. If you want to check if your postcode is in a qualifying area, the government has a handy tool.