The West Midlands is preparing for a fresh wave of severe winter weather on Friday, with significant snowfall predicted to cause major disruption to travel and education. Following widespread school closures earlier in the week, parents are being urged to check the status of their child's school as a new amber weather warning comes into force.
Met Office Issues Severe Weather Alert
The Met Office has escalated its warnings, placing Birmingham and the wider West Midlands under an amber alert for snow and ice. This warning is active from 8pm on Thursday, January 8, until 9am on Friday, January 9. Forecasters warn of dangerous travelling conditions and significant disruption to daily life.
This severe weather is being driven by Storm Goretti, a powerful system sweeping across the UK. The storm is bringing a dangerous mix of hazards, including gusts of wind potentially reaching 100mph in exposed areas, heavy rain, and substantial snowfall.
Heavy Snowfall and Travel Chaos Expected
Meteorologists predict that rain associated with the storm will turn to heavy snow overnight. Most areas across the warning zone can expect 10-15cm of snow, with higher ground above 200m likely to see accumulations of 20-30cm.
Regions expected to be hardest hit include Wales, the Peak District, and the Midlands. In the West Midlands, the amber warning covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, the West Midlands Conurbation, and Worcestershire.
Meanwhile, the situation is even more critical in the South West. The Met Office has upgraded its warning for the Isles of Scilly and much of Cornwall to a rare red warning due to the threat of "exceptionally strong winds" that could exceed 100mph.
School Closures and Public Disruption
The primary concern for many families is the potential for further school closures. Dozens of schools across the region were forced to shut on Tuesday due to heavy snow, and a similar situation is anticipated for Friday.
Neil Armstrong, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, stated: "Heavy snow will affect Wales, the Midlands and parts of northern England overnight and through Friday morning. This multi-hazard event will bring significant disruption to many."
To check the status of any school, parents and guardians should use the official government's school closure website. By entering their postcode, they can get up-to-date information on whether their child's school will be open.
Residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel during the warning period, as roads are expected to become treacherous. Public transport services may also be delayed or cancelled. The combination of high winds and heavy snow increases the risk of power cuts and damage to infrastructure.
