The UK is reeling from the impact of Storm Goretti, a fierce winter storm that has left tens of thousands of homes without electricity, caused widespread travel chaos, and forced numerous school closures. The Met Office issued a rare red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds, highlighting the severe threat posed by the weather system.
Widespread Power Outages and Record Winds
As of 5am on Friday, 9 January 2026, the National Grid reported significant power failures across the country. More than 43,000 properties were without power in the South West, with an additional 13,000 affected in the West Midlands and 650 in Wales. Over 1,800 addresses in the East Midlands also lost supply, with engineers aiming to restore services in the South West by 8am.
The storm's ferocity was confirmed by a new wind speed record of 99mph recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly on Thursday. The Met Office described Storm Goretti as a "multi-hazard event," bringing a dangerous mix of snow, wind, and rain.
Major Transport Network Disruption
The storm's impact on transport has been severe, with road, rail, and air services all facing major delays and cancellations. National Rail warned that services across England, Wales, and Scotland could be affected until the end of Friday.
All train services in Cornwall were suspended from 6pm on Thursday, with routes in Devon also halted. West Midlands Railway advised customers not to travel until at least Friday afternoon, and London Northwestern Railway suspended all morning services between Birmingham and Liverpool Lime Street.
In the air, East Midlands Airport closed its runway "due to heavy snowfall," while Birmingham Airport conducted safety checks after overnight suspensions. On the roads, National Highways closed the A30 in Cornwall in both directions due to fallen trees, with police assisting at the scene.
School Closures and Severe Weather Warnings
The severe conditions have led to widespread school closures. Dozens of schools across the Midlands and Wales, areas under an amber weather warning, announced they would be closed on Friday. In Scotland, more than 250 schools remained closed, including over 150 in Aberdeenshire.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong stated: "Storm Goretti will be 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 South West." An amber warning for snow covered parts of Wales, the Midlands, and Yorkshire until 9am Friday, with 10 to 15cm of snow likely and up to 30cm on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District.
The red warning, active until 11pm on Thursday, warned of potential damage to buildings, danger to life from flying debris, large waves, and further power cuts and transport cancellations. The storm, named by French forecaster Meteo France, continues to pose a significant threat as it moves across the country.
