It looks like after switching code to check get_site_transient('update_core')
I have got what I need just action must be executed in a proper priority or a hook (thoughts/suggestions?). Working code below:
function core_update_notification(){
global $wp_version;
$installed_version = $wp_version;
$uc_transient = get_site_transient('update_core');
if ( empty($uc_transient->updates) ) return;
$updates = $uc_transient->updates;
$current_version = $updates[0]->current;
if (version_compare($installed_version, $current_version, "<")) {
$to = "[email protected]";
$subject = "WP update is available!";
$message = "You have WP update ready to install";
$headers="From: My Website <[email protected]>" . "\r\n";
wp_mail( $to, $subject, $message, $headers );
}
}
add_action( 'init', 'core_update_notification' );
add_filter( 'auto_update_core', '__return_false' );
I think the best solution it will be to use daily wp_schedule_event
in that case following steps from here: https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_schedule_event