An urgent 'threat to life' warning has been declared for people sleeping rough in London, as plunging temperatures create deadly conditions for the city's homeless population.
Charity Issues Severe Cold Weather Alert
The homelessness charity St Mungo's has activated an orange cold weather warning for the capital. The alert states that temperatures dropping below 6 degrees Celsius become potentially life-threatening for those forced to sleep outdoors. This warning was issued on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
The charity's action highlights the immediate danger posed by the current severe weather, which includes the impacts from Storm Isha and its powerful gusts. For rough sleepers, exposure to such cold is a direct medical emergency.
Record Numbers on the Streets
The warning comes against a backdrop of sharply rising homelessness. Official figures reveal that the number of people sleeping rough in England on a single night in 2024 reached 4,667. This marks a staggering 20 per cent increase on previous counts.
In London alone, the situation is particularly acute. The capital saw a 16 per cent rise, with 1,318 individuals recorded sleeping rough in the snapshot count. More broadly, outreach workers across London encountered over 13,000 people rough sleeping during the 2024-2025 period – the highest number ever documented.
Public Warnings and Emergency Response
In response to the crisis, authorities are taking steps to raise public awareness of the dangers. London train stations will now display warnings to inform the public about the severe risks cold weather poses to homeless individuals.
The move aims to encourage vigilance and reporting, so that outreach teams can locate and assist vulnerable people more quickly during the perilous cold snap. The combination of freezing temperatures, storm-force winds, and record-high homelessness levels has created a perfect storm of risk for thousands of people.
Charities and support services are now operating under emergency protocols, urging the public to be alert and to contact relevant services if they see someone sleeping rough in the dangerous conditions.
