UPDATE: |Met Office issues red ‘very high’ alert in five areas of England today – full list News

Five areas of the UK will be worst affected, according to the latest forecast

Five areas in England have been issued with a red “very high” alert from the Met Office over the next few days.

Red pollen alerts have been issued in Yorkshire, parts of the Midlands and London among other UK areas from today, April 17, and into tomorrow, April 18.

During the spring and summer months, the Met Office issues a pollen forecast to warn hay fever sufferers of when they can expect the worst symptoms. They issue alerts of varying severities from low (green), medium (yellow), high (amber), and very high (red).

Hay fever affects more than 10 million people in the UK and is caused by an allergy to pollen which can cause congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and sometimes even headaches and hives.

Red “very high” alerts are in place this week in Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England and London and South East England.

As well as the red alerts there are also several amber alerts issued across the country this week affecting Wales, North East England and South West England among others.

It comes as the UK experienced a drastic change in the weather after two weeks of sunshine turned into heavy rain and wind over the past few days. The Met Office explained that the high pressure, causing the clear skies and sun, has been replaced with low pressure, bringing rain, cloud and colder temperatures.

Full list of red ‘very high’ pollen warnings this week

Thursday, April 17

• East Midlands
• East of England
• London and South East England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and Humber

Good Friday, April 18

• East Midlands
• East of England
• London and South East England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and Humber

Full list of amber ‘high’ pollen warnings this week

Thursday, April 17

• North East England
• Wales
• South West England

Good Friday, April 18

• North East England
• North West England
• Wales

Saturday, April 19

• East Midlands
• East of England
• London and South East England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and Humber

Easter Sunday, April 20

• North East England
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• Wales
• South West England