Met Office issues 12-hour snow weather warning for part of the West Midlands

Residents across the West Midlands and Staffordshire are being warned to prepare for possible snow and icy conditions on Tuesday morning, with disruption expected on some roads and public transport services.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow, covering Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as several other parts of the UK.

The warning was issued at 5.15pm on Sunday, and highlights the potential for difficult travelling conditions during the early hours and morning commute on Tuesday.

Snowfall could affect higher ground

A band of rain is expected to move northwards across the UK overnight on Monday and into Tuesday morning. As it meets colder air, the rain is likely to turn to snow across parts of the affected region.

Higher ground, particularly areas around 100 metres above sea level, is most likely to experience snowfall. Any snow falling at lower levels is expected to be temporary and should melt relatively quickly.

Where snow settles, accumulations of between 1cm and 5cm are forecast, with some higher locations above 300–400 metres potentially seeing between 5cm and 15cm.

Strong easterly winds could also cause localised drifting, increasing the risk of difficult driving conditions on exposed and elevated routes.

The Met Office yellow weather warning on Tuesday covers the following areas:

West Midlands

• Staffordshire
• Stoke-on-Trent

Other affected areas across the UK

East Midlands

• Derbyshire
• Nottinghamshire

North East England

• Darlington
• Durham
• Gateshead
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• Northumberland

North West England

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Cheshire East
• Cumbria
• Greater Manchester
• Lancashire

Scotland

• East Ayrshire
• South Ayrshire
• South Lanarkshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Midlothian
• Scottish Borders

Yorkshire and the Humber

• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire

Travel disruption possible across Staffordshire

Motorists travelling across Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys and remain alert to changing road conditions.

Some roads and railway services could be affected, with longer journey times expected for motorists, bus passengers and rail users.

There is also a small chance that ice could build up on infrastructure, including power lines, potentially resulting in localised power cuts or reduced mobile phone coverage.

Snow is expected to gradually turn back to rain from the south and throughout Tuesday morning.

Residents urged to take precautions

The Met Office is advising people to plan ahead and check the latest weather forecasts before travelling.

Drivers are encouraged to carry essential supplies in their vehicles in case they become delayed. These include:

• Warm clothing and a blanket.
• Food and drinking water.
• A torch and mobile phone charger.
• An ice scraper and de-icer.
• A warning triangle and high-visibility vest.

People using public transport should check for service updates and potential cancellations before setting off.

What is the risk?

The yellow warning has a 50–75% likelihood of occurring, with a moderate potential impact.

Although widespread severe disruption is not currently expected, conditions could become hazardous, particularly on higher ground and untreated roads.

Residents across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and the wider West Midlands are urged to keep up to date with Met Office forecasts as the situation develops.

The warning highlights the possibility of disruption rather than a certainty, and conditions could change before Tuesday morning.