The West Midlands is bracing for a significant bout of wintry weather this week, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for snow. Birmingham is set to be blanketed, with heavy snow forecast to arrive as Storm Goretti sweeps across the UK.
Weather Warnings in Force
A yellow warning for snow is active from 6pm on Thursday, January 8, until midday on Friday, January 9. This alert covers the entire West Midlands region. Prior to that, a separate warning for ice is in place from midnight on Tuesday, January 7, until 10am on Wednesday morning. Sleet showers are predicted in the early hours of Wednesday, between 3am and 7am, which are likely to lead to hazardous icy patches on untreated surfaces.
Hour-by-Hour Snow Forecast for Birmingham
According to detailed projections from both the Met Office and Netweather, the main event is scheduled for Thursday evening. Here is a breakdown of when to expect the snow.
Wednesday, January 7 & Thursday, January 8
The week begins with persistent sleet. From 3am through to 7am on Wednesday, a series of sleet showers is expected, with temperatures holding steady at around 2°C. Thursday will see similar conditions for much of the day, with sleet forecast from 5pm through to 8pm.
The transition to heavy snow is predicted from 9pm on Thursday. This intense period is expected to last for several hours, with heavy snow continuing from 9pm through to 11pm. Temperatures will remain around 2°C.
Friday, January 9 & Sunday, January 11
Overnight into Friday, the heavy snow will ease to light snow between midnight and 2am. From 3am, it will turn back to sleet showers before becoming overcast from 5am onwards, with a slight dip in temperature to 1°C.
Further disruption is possible over the weekend. Netweather's forecast for Sunday, January 11, indicates snow showers throughout the day, at 6am, 9am, 12pm, and 3pm, with temperatures again around 1°C.
Preparing for Storm Goretti's Impact
Residents across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands are advised to prepare for travel disruption during the warning periods. The combination of ice and significant snow accumulation could lead to difficult driving conditions, potential delays to public transport, and a risk of slips and falls on icy pavements. It is recommended to check the latest Met Office updates and travel news before making any essential journeys, especially from Thursday evening through Friday morning.
