The Met Office has activated a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across the West Midlands, alerting residents to potential travel chaos and hazardous conditions as a severe cold snap tightens its grip on the UK.
Warning Details and Forecast
The warning is currently in force and is scheduled to remain active until 11am on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. Forecasters warn that scattered wintry showers of rain, sleet, and snow will push eastwards across Wales and western England during Tuesday morning.
While not every location will see settling snow, the Met Office states that small accumulations are possible, with the highest ground in Wales potentially seeing 1-3 cm. Elsewhere, most areas will see negligible amounts, though up to 1 cm could fall in isolated spots.
The greater immediate danger is widespread ice. "With temperatures widely below freezing, icy surfaces are likely," the Met Office cautioned. This raises the risk of injuries from slips and falls on untreated pavements, cycle paths, and roads.
Widespread Disruption and Further Alerts
The impending freeze is expected to cause significant travel problems. The Met Office advises that road, bus, and train services are likely to be affected, leading to longer journey times. This follows a day of disruption on Monday which saw hundreds of schools closed nationwide, alongside cancelled flights and disrupted train services.
The cold spell is severe and extensive. Overnight into Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing for much of the country, with the lowest temperatures over lying snow possibly plunging to a bitter minus 12 degrees Celsius.
Beyond the West Midlands, other regions are also on alert:
- Two amber snow warnings are in place for northern parts of Scotland until Tuesday evening.
- Further yellow snow and ice warnings cover southwest England, northern England, eastern England, and Wales.
Health Alert Issued
In response to the dangerous temperatures, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold health alert for all of England. This serves as an early warning that the adverse conditions are likely to impact health and social care services. This alert is currently set to run until Friday, indicating a prolonged period of severe cold.
Residents across the West Midlands and other affected regions are urged to exercise extreme caution, allow extra time for travel, and check for updates on school closures and transport schedules before venturing out.
