Storm Goretti brings heavy snow in Birmingham and Black Country

Heavy snow arrived in the West Midlands on Thursday evening thanks to Storm Goretti.

An amber Met Office warning is in place for much of the Midlands and most of Wales until Friday morning. Snow could reach up to 30cm in some areas, it said.

Weather conditions also caused disruption and hazardous driving conditions, with some videos showing cars sliding around in the snow in Kings Heath, in Birmingham

Rail services have also been affected, with West Midlands Railway and Network Rail asking commuters to check journeys before travelling.

They warned passengers rail services may be delayed as ice could make it difficult for trains to run safely.

“From 19:00 GMT on Thursday, some trains across the West Midlands will run on a reduced timetable and passengers should take extra care and plan their journeys in advance,” Network Rail said.

Chiltern Railways advised those travelling that a “significantly reduced service” would be in place on Friday.

A spokesperson added one Chiltern Railways service per hour would operate in each direction from Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone.

Passengers at Birmingham New Street station said they changed their travel plans to get earlier trains.

Chiny, a 39-year-old government worker, told the BBC he was heading home to Leeds a day early to try and beat the storm.

He said: “We were having a work meeting but it was ended early and everyone was told to go home because of the storm.”

Kat, 22, a student at the University of Oxford, was travelling through the city on her way home to Leicester and had to get an earlier train after hers was cancelled.

She said: “My mum has offered to pick me up from the station which she normally doesn’t do, so maybe that’s an indicator of the seriousness of it.”

West Midlands Fire Service has urged drivers to “only make essential journeys if necessary” as the storm may cause “hazardous travel”.

Schools have began to issue closure warnings, with Waseley Hills High School saying conditions would be monitored.

“If severe weather were to require a school closure, a decision would be made and communicated by 7am on the morning concerned,” it said.

BP Pulse Live said two Young Voices concerts on Thursday and Friday – featuring thousands of primary school pupils – had been postponed due to the forecast.

“We are currently working to arrange a new date for the concerts, with further details to be shared with schools and ticket holders,” organisers said in a statement, adding that new dateds would be rearranged and tickets would remain valid.

Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum closed on Thursday afternoon to allow its staff to get home ahead of the snow’s arrival.

The museum said it was also shut all day Friday in order to ensure the safety of staff and the public.

The University of Birmingham said it intended to open the campus and student support departments on Friday, but most departments would close earlier on Thursday, to allow staff time to return home.

Councils are continuing to grit roads, with Birmingham City Council saying gritters and , if needed, snowploughs would continue overnight and on Friday.

Sandwell Council said gritting crews had treated 270 miles of roads but warned surfaces could still be treacherous.

The major roads and motorways around Birmingham were particularly busy as many people left work early, with rush hour beginning at about 14:00.

Getting ready to help NHS workers tonight is Geoff Flegg, from West Midlands 4×4 Response.

The charity provides support to the emergency services and will have 36 responders on duty as the amber weather alert hits the region.

“It’ll be extremely busy tonight. If this snow hits we’ll be called out all over the West Midlands from Stoke on Trent all the way down to Stratford,” he said.

The volunteers will most likely be working through the night to ensure staff can get in for their shifts, and also get home safely.

“We’re there making sure staff can get into do their job and look after the patients,” he added.