Storms alert as blizzard on way

A winter blizzard of heavy snow, ice and 40mph gusts of wind was heading for the West Midlands today – threatening a second week of disruption to roads, schools and businesses.

The Met Office is warning of "persistent, heavy snow" tonight, with temperatures plummeting to -1C (30F).

Yet another stormy night would put added pressure on the region's supplies of grit, which are dwindling due to the worst snowfall in 18 years. Met Office spokeswoman Helen Chivers said the West Midlands would be lashed by heavy rain this afternoon before thick snow starts to fall at around 9pm.

Up to 10cm of snow will cover the Black Country and Staffordshire, increasing to 20cm over higher grounds. "It really will be extremely wet," she said. "Then at around 9pm it will turn to snow. People need to be very careful."

The blizzard-like conditions tonight and tomorrow will also include northerly winds reaching gusts of up to 40mph.

Meanwhile, a sheet of ice over the region's roads caused havoc today. There were reports of drivers losing control along Trinity Way, West Bromwich; the Black Country Route on the Wolverhampton and Willenhall border and Kidderminster Road in Bewdley.