Midlands Snow Warnings: Hopes of a white weekend dashed as flood alerts issued

Credit: Met Office / Environment Agency

Parts of the Midlands could be blanketed by up to six inches (15cm) of snow this weekend, while other areas are being warned to ‘expect’ flooding.

Yellow weather warnings for “heavy snow” that had previously been issued for much of the region by the Met Office have now been downgraded - with the band of snow now expected to move over Wales, as the Midlands is set to be hit by heavy rainfall instead.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings across the Midlands - with areas in Worcestershire and Derbyshire being those most at risk.

Forecasters said snowy conditions could bring “disruption” to travel across the patch, with the warning lasting from 5am until 6pm tomorrow (Saturday).

The Met Office warns Saturday’s snow flurry could bring a risk of chaos in some rural and low-lying communities:

  • Chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel

  • Slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off

  • Chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected

The snow warning is in place in the following areas:

  • West Midlands

    • Herefordshire

    • Shropshire

    • Warwickshire

    • Worcestershire

The weather warning comes after large swathes of the Midlands were left blanketed in snow last weekend.

Hundreds of schools across the Midlands were shut because of the snow and ice. While several coronavirus vaccination sites also had to close because of the snow.

The Met Office said the UK had experienced its snowiest spell since late January 2019, when 20 weather stations in England recorded accumulations of 5cm or more for three days consecutively.

Flood barriers in Ironbridge last week

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is warning people across the Midlands to be prepared for flooding this weekend. 

Flood warnings - meaning flooding ‘is expected’ - have been issued along the:

  • River Severn and River Avon in Worcestershire

  • River Leam in Warwickshire

  • River Blythe near Coleshill

  • River Blithe near Kings Bromley

  • River Sence near Wellsborough

  • River Alne near Alcester

  • River Dean at Walton

  • River Dove near Sudbury

  • River Soar in Long Eaton and Sileby

  • River Wreake in Thrussington

The Agency has warned that because of recent heavy rainfall, river levels are already high, and continue to be rising: 

Adding things may only get worse, with river levels expected to remain high over the next few days, as “further rainfall is forecast over the next 48 hours.”

There are already reports of flooding starting to emerge in some parts of the Midlands today (Friday 29th).

One ITV Central viewer sent in these pictures showing a waterlogged Watermead Park in Birstall in Leicestershire earlier this morning:

Credit: Jo Clayton

The Environment Agency say their incident response teams are continually monitoring river levels and checking defences across the Midlands.

What to do in the event of flooding:

  • The Environment Agency urge people to activate any property flood protection equipment (such as flood barriers and air brick covers)

  • Plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers

  • Move family, possessions, and valuables to safety

  • Avoid contact with flood water

  • Take photographs and contact your insurance company if you've been flooded

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