The West Midlands has woken up to widespread disruption after Storm Goretti blanketed the region in heavy snow, forcing numerous popular attractions to close their doors. An amber weather warning for snow remains active, with significant travel chaos reported across roads, rail, and air services.
Amber Warning and Widespread Snowfall
Storm Goretti swept across the West Midlands on Thursday evening, January 8, 2026, with substantial snowfall beginning from around 6.30pm. The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for heavy snow, which remained in force until 9am on Friday, January 9. This severe warning indicates a high likelihood of travel delays, power cuts, and the potential for rural communities to become cut off.
Major Attractions Announce Closures
In response to the dangerous conditions and to ensure public safety, a host of key visitor destinations have announced they will not open today. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery was among the first to confirm its closure on Thursday.
The list of affected venues has grown rapidly and now includes:
- Wild Zoological Park near Wolverhampton
- Birmingham's Sea Life Centre
- Cadbury World in Bournville
Furthermore, the severe weather has impacted the entertainment schedule, with two concerts at the BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham being postponed.
Ongoing Disruption and Travel Advice
The aftermath of Storm Goretti continues to cause major problems across the region's transport network. Airport runways, schools, roads, and rail lines have all faced closures and severe delays, compounding the disruption caused by the attraction shutdowns. Authorities are urging people to avoid non-essential travel where possible and to check the status of any venue or service before setting out.
With the amber warning in place until mid-morning, further updates on closures and safety information are expected throughout the day as the region works to recover from the significant snowfall.
