A potentially deadly weather bomb has struck the United Kingdom, with Storm Goretti unleashing violent winds, heavy snow, and ice, triggering a rare red weather warning and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity.
Rare Red Alert and Widespread Disruption
On Thursday, 8 January 2026, the Met Office issued its highest-level red warning for wind for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, indicating a high likelihood of risk to life. Emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones in the affected regions. The storm, named by Météo France, brought gusts of up to 99mph recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, a new record for the site.
This explosive cyclogenesis, or weather bomb, occurs when the central pressure in a low-pressure system plummets by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. The Met Office warned that wind speeds could exceed those seen during notable storms like Ciaran (2023) and Eunice (2022).
Power Cuts and Transport Chaos
The immediate impact was severe, with National Grid reporting over 40,000 properties in southwest England suffering power cuts. The storm's multi-hazard nature caused widespread disruption to travel networks across the nation.
All train services in Cornwall were suspended from 6pm on Thursday, with key routes in Devon also halted. In Wales, six railway lines closed early, and Avanti West Coast cancelled one in three trains between London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Passengers were advised not to travel, with tickets valid for journeys postponed until Monday. No replacement bus services were provided due to dangerous road conditions.
British Airways cancelled 30 flights to and from London Heathrow. The RAC urgently warned drivers of the risks of falling trees and vehicles being violently buffeted, especially on exposed coastal routes.
School Closures and Further Warnings
The severe conditions forced numerous schools to close. Dozens in Cornwall finished early on Thursday, with others in the Midlands and Wales closing on Friday. In Scotland, more than 250 schools remained closed for a fifth consecutive day due to persistent snow and ice.
Alongside the red warning, an amber warning for snow was active from Thursday night into Friday morning across a broad swathe of the country, from southeast England to Scotland. Yellow warnings for wind and rain covered other regions, including the south coast of England and Wales, where gusts of 70mph were forecast.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong stated: "Storm Goretti is a multi-hazard event, with the most significant impacts from snow in parts of Wales and the Midlands and the very strong winds in the far southwest."
While a calmer period is expected on Saturday, forecasters predict more snow and strong winds will hit northern UK on Sunday, with rain in the south, before milder conditions return next week.
