The UK government has activated its national emergency alert system for Storm Goretti, sending warnings to mobile phones in areas most at risk. The storm arrived on Thursday, bringing gusts of up to 100mph, with a rare red warning issued for parts of the South West, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, between 4pm and 11pm.
The Met Office warned of “violent gusts” posing a danger to life, with potential damage to buildings, large waves, flying debris, power cuts, and transport cancellations. An amber snow warning for Thursday night into Friday could bring up to 30cm of snow in Wales and the Peak District as part of a “weather bomb”.
The Cabinet Office issued two alerts: the first at 3pm to the Isles of Scilly, and the second at 5pm to Cornwall. The alerts cause a loud siren sound on compatible phones, even if set to silent, lasting about 10 seconds. The system is designed for life-threatening situations, including flooding and wildfires.
This is the fifth real-world use of the system since its 2025 test, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called “an important step in keeping people safe”. Previous alerts included Storm Eowyn in January 2025, Storm Darragh in December 2024, a WWII bomb in Plymouth, and flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
The AA advises drivers not to interact with the message until safely stopped. Domestic abuse victims are advised they can opt out by turning off Severe & Emergency Alerts in phone settings.
