The strange phenomenon of a vivid purple sky over Birmingham has finally been explained, with aerial photographs revealing the unexpected source: powerful grow lights at Birmingham City Football Club's stadium.
The Source of the Purple Glow
Speculation had been rife, with some residents wondering if the unusual pink and purple hue was an effect of the heavy snowfall. However, images taken on January 09, 2026 clearly show the intense illumination emanating from the football ground, casting an otherworldly glow across the cityscape. The lights are used to maintain the pitch during winter months.
Storm Goretti Wreaks Havoc Across UK
The colourful mystery unfolded against a backdrop of severe weather as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of the year, battered the country. The Met Office issued a rare red "danger to life" warning for wind in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with amber warnings for snow and strong winds covering the Midlands.
Officials in the West Midlands warned of the "worst snowfall in a decade", with predictions of 5-10cm of snow widely and up to 15-25cm in some areas. The National Grid reported that around 60,000 premises were left without gas or electricity due to the storm's impact.
Widespread Travel Chaos and Disruption
The severe weather caused major transport disruptions across the Midlands and beyond:
- East Midlands Railway (EMR) closed the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester for the entire day.
- Services between Nottingham and Lincoln, and Leicester and Nottingham, were suspended until after 10am on Friday.
- Birmingham Airport operated with reduced runway capacity, advising passengers to contact their airlines for flight status updates.
An amber snow warning remained in place for the Midlands, Wales, and Yorkshire, with additional hazards from rain in parts of Wales and eastern England. The storm, named by Meteo-France, has underscored the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme winter weather events.
