A rare and dangerous weather phenomenon is set to strike Birmingham and the West Midlands in the early hours of Sunday, 11 January 2026. The Met Office has issued a stark warning for freezing rain, an event that can coat roads and pavements in a layer of treacherous, invisible ice within moments.
What is Freezing Rain and Why is it So Dangerous?
This hazardous forecast follows the severe disruption caused by Storm Goretti, which battered the UK with 99mph winds and record snowfall. The new threat emerges as temperatures in Birmingham are predicted to plunge to -2°C by midnight on Sunday.
The science behind freezing rain is particularly perilous. Between 3am and 9am on Sunday, rain falling from warmer, higher atmospheric layers will pass through a deep freeze of sub-zero air near the ground. This causes the droplets to become 'supercooled', freezing instantly on contact with any surface.
The result is a clear glaze of black ice, potentially several centimetres thick. Unlike snow, this ice is often impossible to see and can form a slick coating strong enough to snap power lines and tree branches. The risk to pedestrians, drivers, and aircraft is considered severe.
Warnings, Snowfall, and a Critical Health Alert
The Met Office has implemented a 13-hour yellow weather warning for snow and ice, active from 2am to 3pm on Sunday. After the initial freezing rain, a blanket of snow between 0.6cm and 5cm is expected, with up to 20cm possible on higher ground in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
In a grave development, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber cold health alert until 12pm on Monday, 12 January. The alert highlights a potential rise in deaths, especially for the over-65s, and significant strain on the NHS as indoor temperatures struggle to reach the recommended 18°C.
Ongoing Travel Chaos and a Milder Turn
Transport networks are already reeling from Storm Goretti's impact. Major operators including West Midlands Railway, CrossCountry, and Transport for Wales are running altered or reduced services. Furthermore, around 1,700 homes in the West Midlands remained without power as of Saturday morning, with National Grid crews working on restoration.
Looking beyond the weekend, the Met Office forecasts a shift to milder conditions from Monday, 12 January. While this will end the freezing rain risk, it brings a new danger: strengthening winds and heavy rain could trigger flooding as the recent heavy snow begins to melt rapidly.
