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Cold health alert issued with snow forecast for parts of UK

A cold health alert has been issued across much of England, as forecasters predict snow could hit parts of Wales and the Midlands.

The alert, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), runs from 6am on Friday until 8am on Monday, and covers the South West, the Midlands, the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and The Humber.

The agency - which generally only issues warnings for England - said the cold weather was likely to pose "a greater risk to life of vulnerable people" and prompt an increased use of healthcare services.

Check the weather forecast in your area

The alert came as the Met Office issued a yellow warning for snow that could bring disruption to parts of Wales and central England on Wednesday and Thursday.

Between 2cm and 5cm of snow could fall quite widely in higher areas, the forecaster said, while lower-lying places could see smaller amounts from late evening into the early hours.

A yellow warning for rain is also in place for southern England on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Met Office warning of the risk of flooding and travel disruption.

Areas in the South West have been affected by January's three named storms - Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra - which all brought heavy rain.

As so much rain has fallen since the start of the year, Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore reports that the UK is at risk of more flooding for months to come.

According to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) rivers in the south and southwest of England reached exceptionally high levels in January, with some breaking records.

In some areas where rainfall has been heaviest, the soil has been saturated, causing water to rise through the ground.

Read more from Sky News:
Highest unemployment rate in nearly five years
Why the UK's 'lost' boys are in crisis

The Environment Agency (EA) has also warned of a significant risk of groundwater flooding that could last for months.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Cold health alert issued with snow forecast for parts of UK

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