The Met Office has issued an urgent warning to residents across Birmingham, advising households to prepare immediately for severe winter weather. The national weather service is urging people to stockpile seven key items to ensure they can cope if heavy snow cuts them off from essential services for several days.
Essential Items to Gather Now
With an amber weather warning active from Thursday, January 8, into Friday, January 9, the Met Office's message is clear: act now and be prepared. The advice is to gather essentials that could be vital if you are left without access to food, heat, or light. The recommended items include:
- Torches and spare batteries
- Candles, matches, or lighters
- Plenty of blankets and warm clothing
This guidance comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed Amber cold weather health alerts for all regions of England, which remain in force until 11 January.
Significant Travel Disruption Expected
The Met Office weather warnings highlight a high likelihood of travel chaos. Forecasters predict that train and bus services are likely to be severely affected, while many roads will become hazardous. Mark Sidaway, Deputy Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, provided an update on the situation.
"It’ll remain cold or very cold to start the weekend, although for most it will be dry," said Sidaway. "We then have very large uncertainties in the forecast by Sunday and Monday as milder air from the Atlantic tries to displace the cold air over the UK. This set up brings a risk of some further widespread snowfall."
He emphasised the importance of staying informed, urging the public to "stay aware of the forecast and any warnings which may be issued over the next few days."
Detailed Forecast for the Coming Days
The BBC Weather team has provided a detailed breakdown of the expected conditions. On Thursday, northern areas will see variable cloud and some wintry showers. The south will have a dry start before turning wet and windy, with rain turning to snow across Wales and central England by evening.
Thursday night will be windy with sleet and snow in Wales and central England, which could be heavy at times. The far south will see rain and a risk of gales, while Scotland can expect clear spells.
Friday is forecast to bring cloudy skies with lingering rain, sleet, and snow in the north and east, and it will be windy in the east. Bright spells are expected in the west with a few showers.
The weekend outlook suggests Saturday will be largely bright in the west but cloudier with some showers, wintry on higher ground, in the north and east. Sunday will turn cloudy and windy, with rain and snow developing in the west later and pushing east across the UK overnight. Monday is predicted to be mostly cloudy with the odd shower.
The overarching message from authorities remains one of proactive preparation. By gathering the recommended essentials now, Birmingham residents can better ensure their safety and comfort during this period of severe winter weather.
