Hundreds of schools across the United Kingdom will remain shut on Friday, 9th January 2026, as the country braces for significant disruption caused by Storm Goretti. The severe weather system swept in overnight, bringing heavy snow and treacherous icy conditions that have forced widespread closures from Scotland to the Midlands and Wales.
Nationwide Disruption to Education
The impact is being felt nationwide. In Scotland, over 250 schools will be closed on Friday, a notable reduction from the 440 that were shut on Wednesday but still representing major disruption. The affected regions include Aberdeenshire, where more than 150 schools are closed, the Highlands, Aberdeen, and Moray.
Further south, dozens of schools across the Midlands and Wales have announced they will not open. In Shropshire alone, more than two dozen schools are closed. Parents are being urged to check the status of their child's school by visiting the official government website and entering their postcode for the most up-to-date, localised information.
Met Office Issues 'Danger to Life' Warnings
The closures come as the Met Office has issued a series of severe weather warnings for snow and ice. Most critically, an amber 'danger to life' warning for snow is in force from 8pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday. This alert covers the East Midlands, South West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber, and Wales.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong warned: "Heavy snow will affect Wales, the Midlands and parts of northern England overnight and through Friday morning. This multi-hazard event will bring significant disruption to many." He advised people in the warning areas to stay updated with forecasts and official messages.
The forecast predicts widespread snowfall of 10 to 15cm across the amber warning zones, with the potential for up to 30cm on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District. The Met Office has cautioned that this heavy snow could lead to power cuts and may temporarily isolate some rural communities.
Further Weather Warnings in Place
In addition to the amber alert, two separate yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are active. One, covering parts of northern and southern England including London, as well as the regions under the amber warning, remains in place until midday on Friday.
A second yellow warning covers eastern Scotland and northern England, also valid until Friday midday. This reflects the ongoing hazardous conditions as the storm's influence continues.
Storm Goretti made its presence felt forcefully on Thursday evening, with gusts of 99mph recorded on the Isles of Scilly amid a rare red weather warning for wind. The storm's northern edge is now delivering the significant snowfall that is causing Friday's widespread travel and education disruption.
