The Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings across the UK as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, intensifies into a 'weather bomb'. Forecasters warn of up to 30cm of snow in Wales and the Midlands, with winds reaching 100mph in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
A rare red warning for 'dangerous, stormy' winds is in place for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where a record wind speed of 99mph was recorded at St Mary's airport. The storm is expected to be more powerful than Storm Ciarán in 2023 and the Great Storm of 1987, according to the Met Office.
Birmingham Airport suspended runway operations due to heavy snow, while over 47,000 properties in the south-west lost power, according to National Grid. Emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones in the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, warning of potential risks to life and property.
The Met Office's Alex Burkill described the storm as a 'multi-hazard event', with snow, rain and severe winds causing travel disruption, power cuts and damage to buildings. Rail services have been cancelled across Wales, Cornwall and north-west England, and Eurostar routes face delays.
Amber cold weather health alerts are in place until 11 January, with the UK Health Security Agency warning of a potential rise in deaths, particularly among the elderly and those with health conditions. The storm is expected to weaken by Friday.
