Hundreds of schools across the UK remain closed on Friday as Storm Goretti continues to cause disruption with snow and ice. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice covering much of Scotland until midday, among several other warnings across the country.
More than 250 schools are shut, including over 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and several in Moray. Many pupils have had a full week off school at the start of the new term, with remote learning provided in many cases. On Thursday, 278 schools were closed in northern Scotland, down from 440 on Wednesday.
Storm Goretti, named by the French meteorological service, has brought peak gusts of 99mph to the Isles of Scilly and up to 30cm of snow to parts of the UK. The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for wind in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on Thursday afternoon.
Travel disruption continues, with British Airways cancelling 25 departures and 27 arrivals at Heathrow on Friday. West Midlands Railway has suspended all services until the afternoon, and London Northwestern Railway has suspended services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street until Friday afternoon. The A628 Woodhead Pass remains closed due to snow, and three northbound lanes of the M1 are closed near Chesterfield after a lorry crash.
The UK Health Security Agency has extended amber cold health alerts for England until Sunday, warning of increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections, especially for those over 65 and with pre-existing conditions. National Highways has issued an amber snow warning for the West and East Midlands, advising drivers to avoid travel if possible.
