Heavy Rain Causes Widespread Disruption Across Birmingham
Commuters across the West Midlands faced significant disruption on Tuesday, 12th November 2025, after a night of heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in Birmingham. The deluge, which occurred overnight, resulted in multiple road closures, bus diversions, and temporary motorway blockages, creating a challenging morning rush hour for travellers.
Key Road and Motorway Updates
The impact was felt on major routes, with the M5 motorway northbound initially closing between Junction 3 for Halesowen and Junction 2 for Oldbury due to flooding. While the water has since cleared and all lanes have reopened, motorists were warned to expect residual delays of approximately 15 minutes and around one mile of congestion on the northbound carriageway, although these issues were anticipated to ease.
Several key local roads were also affected. The A456 Hagley Road into the city, specifically the section between Harborne Road and Galton Road in Bearwood, was closed. Furthermore, the A34 Birchfield Road underpass at Wellington Road in Perry Barr was completely blocked in both directions due to flooding.
Public Transport and Official Warnings
Bus services were not immune to the chaos. Services including the 9, 126, X8, and X10 on Hagley Road West in Quinton near Miller and Carter were disrupted, but have since returned to their normal routes.
In response to the dangerous conditions, authorities issued urgent safety advice. The West Midlands Fire Service strongly advised the public to avoid flood water entirely. Their guidance states: never drive through flood water, and if you are stranded in a vehicle in fast-flowing water, do not attempt to get out.
Echoing this sentiment, Birmingham Councillor Majid Mahmood took to social media platform X to warn residents. He posted, “We’ve experienced significant rainfall across Birmingham overnight, with further heavy showers expected throughout the day.” He urged everyone to take extra care when travelling and emphasised that flood water can be deeper and faster-moving than it appears.
Cllr Mahmood confirmed that council teams are working closely with emergency services and highways crews to manage the flooding, clear blocked drains, and keep the city moving as safely as possible. He extended his thanks to all personnel working in the challenging conditions and advised the public to continue following local travel updates and weather warnings.
