Birmingham and the West Midlands are under amber weather warnings as Storm Goretti is set to bring heavy snowfall, with up to 30cm expected to accumulate in some areas. Additional weather alerts have been issued across the UK, with snow anticipated in Scotland on Thursday morning and icy conditions forecast for Northern Ireland.
Meteorological maps reveal snow flurries sweeping in from 5pm on Thursday, escalating to their heaviest around 6pm. Birmingham will experience consistent snowfall through the evening, climaxing near 1:15am. The Met Office shows a significant area of intense snow cover during this period, with flurries persisting until approximately 5am, when milder air and rainfall begin to clear them.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a “multi-hazard event,” highlighting the primary impacts from snow in parts of Wales and the Midlands. “Accumulations of 5-10cm are likely across wide areas, with some regions, particularly hills, seeing 15-25cm and up to 30cm locally,” he explained. The amber warning marks the period of greatest disruption, particularly Thursday night through Friday morning, though forecasts may be updated as the storm’s path becomes clearer.
READ MORE: Birmingham Drivers Urged to Complete Journeys Early and Avoid Roads from 6pm Thursday Amid Severe Weather Warning
READ MORE: Exact Hour of Next UK Snow Bomb in January Revealed — Arriving Sooner Than Expected
The forecast for Thursday evening into Friday, January 8, outlines that Storm Goretti will move eastwards across southern UK regions. Severe gale-force winds are expected in the far southwest, with heavy snow over Wales and central England, while northern areas will mostly have clear skies. As the storm moves away to the southeast, rain will persist across eastern England, but drier and calmer conditions will develop further west and in the north.
Saturday will bring a brief respite with mostly fine weather, early and late frost, and easing winds. However, wintry conditions are expected to return Sunday into Monday with further wet, windy weather and the potential for additional snow.
Storm Goretti’s influence will diminish by Friday evening as it moves eastward, offering a short-lived calm before the next weather system arrives.