November 2025 United Kingdom and Ireland cold wave

The British Isles were struck by a cold wave, which lasted between 17 and 21 November 2025 and caused widespread disruption to infrastructure. According to the Met Office, the lowest temperature of the wave at −12.6 °C (9.3 °F) was recorded during the early hours of 21 November at Tomintoul in Moray, Scotland, which was the lowest temperature recorded on a November night in 15 years.^[1] At 11 a.m. on 20 November, a snow depth of 9 cm (3.5 in) was recorded by the Met Office at two locations in the Scottish Highlands; a greater depth of 28 cm (11 in) was unofficially recorded in Crymych, a village in Pembrokeshire, Wales.^[2]

A persistent period of heavy rain from Storm Claudia, which brought severe flooding to some areas of the United Kingdom, was displaced by a high-pressure area moving in from the north that brought with it cold air. This area of cold air affected Scotland for a couple of days,^[3] leading to the country's first snowfall of the season in Inverness on 14 November as temperatures dropped to −5.8 °C (21.6 °F) in Kinbrace.^[4] It then plunged southwards on 17 November, prompting the Met Office and UKHSA to issue a number of warnings relating to the forecasted freezing temperatures.^[5] Maximum temperatures were expected to drop by 8 °C (14 °F) between 13 and 17 November.^[6]

On 17 November, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, with a yellow CHA in place for the rest of England until 8 a.m. on 22 November.^[7]

On 18 November, Met Éireann issued Status Yellow warnings for snow and ice from midnight that day to midday on 20 November for the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo.^[8] Another Status Yellow warning for low temperatures was in force between 11 p.m. on 20 November until 8 a.m. on 21 November for the counties of Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow.^[9]

The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for snow on 18 November, covering parts of Yorkshire between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on 20 November. Parts of South West England and southwestern Wales were covered by a yellow snow and ice warning from midday on 19 November to midnight the next day.^[10]

On 19 November, a gritter overturned on the A382 road on Dartmoor whilst preparing roads for the forecasted snow and ice; the driver sustained minor injuries.^[11]