Birmingham Airport has managed to partially reopen its runway after a night of total shutdown caused by heavy snowfall from Storm Goretti. The severe weather brought travel chaos to the Midlands, grounding all flights and leaving holidaymakers stranded.
Runway Reopens on Reduced Basis
The airport confirmed that its runway reopened on a reduced basis at 7.28am on Friday, January 9, 2026. This followed a complete suspension of all runway operations overnight due to what officials described as significant snow accumulation. Teams worked through the early hours to clear the runway and conduct vital safety checks.
An official statement from the airport emphasised that safety was the "number one priority" for both customers and staff, but that teams were working to get passengers away as efficiently as possible. Passenger security processing had actually commenced earlier, at around 5.20am, while flight operations were still halted.
Widespread Travel Disruption Across the Region
The impact of Storm Goretti was not confined to Birmingham. East Midlands Airport also experienced a temporary closure of its main runway overnight due to the heavy snowfall. It has since reopened following successful clearance and safety assessments.
Passengers travelling from either airport are being strongly advised to check the status of their flight directly with their airline before setting out. The airport warns that heavy cancellations and delays are expected throughout the day as the wider aviation network struggles to recover from the storm's severe impact.
Storm Goretti: A "Multi-Hazard Event"
The Met Office has characterised Storm Goretti as a "multi-hazard event", bringing a dangerous mix of heavy snow, rain, and winds that reached speeds of up to 100mph in some parts of the UK. This has resulted in widespread disruption beyond air travel, including school closures, power cuts, and transport problems across the Midlands and Wales.
Official snow depth measurements from this morning underscore the severity of the conditions. 16cm of snow was recorded at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, with 8cm in Nottingham. This wintry blast follows a period of intense cold for the UK, which earlier in the week saw temperatures plunge to a bitter -14.7°C in parts of Scotland.
