The Met Office has issued an urgent call for households in Birmingham to assemble a kit of nine essential items before Thursday, as a significant cold snap threatens to bring widespread ice and snow across the UK.
Nationwide Warnings as Storm Goretti Approaches
An ice warning has been issued for almost the entire country on Wednesday, with a separate snow alert covering large parts of England and Wales for Thursday and Friday. This renewed bout of wintry weather is being driven by an incoming system named Storm Goretti by French forecasters, marking the first named storm of the year.
Met Office guidance stresses the dangers of snowy conditions, which can cause severe delays and hazardous driving. Officials advise the public to plan routes carefully, check for closures, and allow extra time for journeys. For those who must drive, a specific set of in-car essentials is recommended to ensure safety during any unexpected hold-ups.
The Crucial List of Nine Essentials
The Met Office's advised kit for motorists includes the following nine items: warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, an ice scraper or de-icer, a warning triangle, a high-visibility vest, and an in-car phone charger. Having these supplies to hand could prove vital if vehicles become stranded in the deteriorating conditions.
Forecasters Predict a Mix of Disruption
BBC Weather meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas indicated a likelihood of heavy rain, snow, and gales sweeping across southern England overnight Thursday into Friday morning. Meanwhile, Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern noted a 20% chance the weather system takes a more northern track. If it does, it would bring disruptive wind and rain to much of England and Wales, with potential for further snow in northern England, southern Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Scotland is already facing severe impacts from the cold snap. An amber warning for snow is in place, with ScotRail advising travellers to expect significant disruption throughout the day. Netweather TV's Terry Scholey confirmed that amber and yellow warnings for snow and ice cover most areas except eastern England into Tuesday.
"The amber warning covers central and northern Scotland until 7pm this evening, where a further 5 to 10cm of snow is expected widely, with up to 15cm possible in places, particularly above 200 metres," Scholey stated. Multiple yellow warnings remain across Scotland, Wales, western England, and parts of the north.
While a slow thaw is expected as temperatures moderate slightly, bringing a mix of rain, sleet, and snow, the immediate priority for residents, particularly in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, is to prepare for the imminent arrival of icy and potentially snowy weather by gathering the recommended essentials.
