York and North Yorkshire are covered by an amber health alert due to a freezing start to 2026.
And a yellow weather warning for snow has been issued for the North Yorkshire coast.
The snow warning is for Saturday 3 January, and covers an area to the east of York including Malton, Pickering, Scarborough and Whitby.
The Met Office says frequent heavy snow showers, moving in from the coast, may bring disruption to travel on Saturday.
Some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
The forecaster has also warned of injuries due to slips and falls on icy surfaces, which will develop quickly as sleet and snow clears.
A Met Office spokeswoman said: “This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.
“We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold health alert covering the whole of Yorkshire until Tuesday (6 January).
Temperatures are forecast to drop as low as -4°C in York on Saturday night.
The UKHSA said it means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.
“Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.
“Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
“It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.”
