The United Kingdom is grappling with a severe and multi-hazard weather event as Storm Goretti sweeps across the nation, prompting the Met Office to issue an extremely rare red warning for wind. The storm is bringing gusts exceeding 100mph and dumping up to 30cm of snow, leading to widespread travel chaos, power outages, and significant disruption to daily life.
Travel Network Brought to a Standstill
The storm's impact on transport has been immediate and severe. London Heathrow and Birmingham Airports have cancelled dozens of flights, with Birmingham suspending all operations due to heavy snowfall. East Midlands Airport has also halted flights, affecting carriers like Jet2, Ryanair, and TUI.
Rail travel is equally disrupted. All train services in Cornwall were suspended from 6pm on Thursday, with Great Western Railway warning of continued revisions across its network until Friday afternoon. National Rail reports widespread disruption across England, Wales, and Scotland, with West Midlands Railway advising customers not to travel until Friday afternoon at the earliest.
Roads are treacherous, with the M1 northbound closed between junctions 28 and 29 after a lorry crash and settling snow. The A42 southbound is also shut, leaving cars stranded and causing hour-long delays. In Cornwall, fallen trees are blocking the A30, while the Tamar Bridge connecting Devon and Cornwall has closed due to dangerous winds.
Dangerous Conditions and Widespread Impact
The Met Office's red warning, active until 11pm on Thursday for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, signifies a threat to life. Record winds of 99mph were recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, with violent gusts expected to persist for 2-3 hours. Emergency alerts were sent to around half a million people in the region.
Heavy snow is the other major hazard, with an amber warning covering Wales and the Midlands. Up to 30cm of snow is forecast on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District. This has led to over 250 school closures in Scotland for a fifth day, and dozens more are shut across England and Wales on Friday.
The storm has also crippled infrastructure. The National Grid reported over 65,000 homes were left without power, primarily in south-west England and the West Midlands. Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a complex event bringing "significant disruption to many."
What the Weather Warnings Mean
A red weather warning is the highest level issued by the Met Office, indicating that dangerous weather is expected with a high level of certainty. The public is urged to take direct action to protect themselves, as there is likely a risk to life, substantial disruption to travel and energy supplies, and potential widespread damage to property.
In addition to the red warning, six other yellow and amber alerts for snow, ice, rain, and wind remain in force across the UK on Friday. Authorities are advising people to avoid travel unless absolutely essential, to stay indoors where possible, and to follow updates from the Met Office and local emergency services as the situation develops.
