Residents across Birmingham are being urged to prepare an emergency kit immediately as the UK braces for significant disruption from the incoming Storm Goretti. The Met Office has issued an urgent amber warning, forecasting heavy snow and strong winds set to cause chaos from Thursday evening.
Met Office Issues Urgent Travel and Safety Advice
The national forecaster has advised people to give themselves the "best chance" of avoiding delays by checking road conditions and public transport timetables before any journey. The amber warning for snow covers Birmingham and is in effect from 8pm on Thursday, 8th January, until 9am on Friday, 9th January 2026.
Separately, an amber warning for powerful winds has been issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday.
Seven Essential Items for Your Emergency Snow Kit
To help households weather the storm, the Met Office has recommended stocking up on seven key items. Every home should have:
- Food and water supplies
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Torches with spare batteries
- Candles and matches
This basic emergency kit is designed to provide support if travel becomes impossible or if there are power outages.
Forecasters Warn of Widespread and Intensifying Snow
James Madden, a forecaster from Exacta Weather, provided a detailed analysis of the storm's expected path. He stated that the system will initially bring snow and strong winds to lower levels in parts of south-west England and southern Ireland from Thursday afternoon and evening.
"These weather types will then spread and even intensify in nature and their accumulations across many southern and central parts of the country over a several-hour period later today and well into Friday," Mr Madden explained.
The snow is then expected to extend to northern, eastern, and north-eastern parts of the UK on Friday, persisting for several hours before slowly dissipating on Saturday.
However, Madden also cautioned that the term 'transient snow' is being used deliberately. He warned that many lower-lying areas experiencing heavy snow will later see it turn to sleet and rain, which could then freeze. "A cold night during Friday evening will allow for some lasting accumulations of snow in places overnight and other hazards such as ice or even black ice on the roads, particularly the further north you are," he added.
Rain is also expected to be a disruptive factor, especially across southern England on Thursday night and into Friday morning.
