A major storm has caused significant disruption across south-west England, leaving tens of thousands of properties without electricity. Storm Goretti brought what forecasters described as "dangerous stormy winds" to the region on Thursday evening, 8 January 2026.
Rare Red Warning Issued as Winds Peak
The severity of the situation was underscored earlier in the day when the Met Office took the serious step of upgrading its wind warning for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to a red alert. This highest-level warning, indicating a potential danger to life, was active from 4pm until 11pm.
Forecasters warned of exceptionally severe conditions, with "violent" gusts expected to persist for up to three hours before easing. The ferocity of the storm was confirmed by a wind speed recording of 99mph at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly.
Widespread Power Outages Confirmed
The impact on infrastructure was swift and severe. The National Grid confirmed that more than 25,000 premises were without power just after 7pm on Thursday. The outages were concentrated across the south-west of England, where the storm's fury was most directly felt.
Emergency services and utility companies were mobilised to respond to the damage and begin restoration efforts, though ongoing dangerous conditions hampered immediate repairs.
Response and Ongoing Risks
The storm, which has been characterised as a rapid deepening low-pressure system or "weather bomb," led to the activation of the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. Officers there monitored the storm's progress closely as it posed significant risks to maritime safety and coastal communities.
Residents were urged to heed the red warning advice, which typically includes staying indoors and away from windows, and avoiding non-essential travel. The clean-up operation is expected to continue into Friday as authorities assess the full extent of the damage caused by the high winds.
