Emergency services across the UK are dealing with the aftermath of Storm Goretti, which has left one man dead and thousands of homes without power, as further severe weather warnings remain in place for the weekend.
Tragic Incident in Cornwall
A man in his 50s was found dead inside a caravan in Helston, Cornwall, after a tree fell onto it during the storm. Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the Mawgan area at approximately 7.35pm on Thursday evening. The force confirmed the man's death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed. Work to remove the tree took place throughout Friday.
The incident occurred after forecasters issued a rare red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds in the South West, with gusts reaching nearly 100mph. The storm's impact led to widespread disruption, including the postponement of seven Football League matches in England and seven in Scotland, as well as the cancellation of racing at Warwick.
Ongoing Warnings and Widespread Disruption
As of Saturday evening, a complex mix of yellow and amber alerts for wind, rain, snow, and ice are active across much of the country. The National Grid reported that almost 22,200 properties were without power in the South West at 5.30pm on Saturday, with additional outages in the West and East Midlands.
Downing Street stated that support was being offered to households affected by the power cuts. National Rail has warned that disruption to train services is possible until Monday.
The Met Office has issued a new amber snow warning for parts of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, Moray, and the Highlands, valid from 3am until 2pm on Sunday. Forecasters predict 2-5cm of snow at low levels, with up to 30cm possible above 300 metres, alongside risks of blizzard conditions and deep drifts.
Further Risks and Government Response
Separate yellow warnings for snow and ice cover much of Scotland, the Midlands, north-east and north-west England, and Yorkshire on Sunday. Meanwhile, significant rainfall is anticipated in south-west Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, with up to 110mm possible in some Scottish regions, increasing the risk of flooding as it combines with melting snow.
The severe conditions have also impacted water supplies. Government minister Mary Creagh described ongoing water supply issues in the south east and south west as "entirely unacceptable". South East Water reported problems in East Grinstead and surrounding areas, not expecting a resolution until the end of the weekend. South West Water said a fault at a treatment works in Cornwall, combined with power outages, had caused severe disruption, though supplies had been restored to more than half of those affected. Both companies have set up bottled water stations.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell explained that a new weather system moving in from Northern Ireland would bring further snow before transitioning to rain, leading to a risk of ice. He confirmed that next week will see a shift to milder but unsettled conditions, with temperatures rising to 9-11C in the south and 6-8C in the north.
The public is advised to check for travel delays, prepare for dangerous driving conditions, and take care to avoid slips and falls on ice.
