A cold health alert has been issued, with forecasters predicting snow will hit parts of the UK.
The alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) runs from 6am on Friday until 8am on Monday, covering 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 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.
A yellow warning for rain is in place for southern England on Wednesday and Thursday, with forecasters warning of risks of flooding and travel disruption.
Sky’s science correspondent Thomas Moore also reported that the UK is at risk of more flooding for months to come, as so much rain has fallen since the start of 2026.
Figures from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) hold that 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 is so saturated that water is rising through the ground, which can lead to sudden floods.
The Environment Agency (EA) has also warned of a significant risk of so-called groundwater flooding that could persist for months.
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