A fierce and record-breaking storm named Goretti has plunged large parts of the United Kingdom into chaos, leaving a trail of destruction characterised by widespread power failures, paralysed transport networks, and forced school closures.
Record Winds and Rare Red Alert
The tempest, which struck on Thursday, 8 January 2026, brought exceptionally powerful winds, with a gust of 99mph recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly. This formidable speed set a new record for the location. The severity of the conditions prompted the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning for the South West of England, its highest level of alert, indicating a significant danger to life.
Nationwide Impact and Infrastructure Failures
The storm's impact was felt across the nation. Energy infrastructure bore the brunt, with over 43,000 properties in the South West and 14,000 in the West Midlands losing electricity. Hundreds more homes were plunged into darkness across Wales and the East Midlands, bringing the total number of affected households well into the tens of thousands.
Transport systems ground to a halt. Heavy snowfall forced the closure of runways at both East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport. Rail passengers faced severe misery as services across England, Wales, and Scotland were suspended or subject to lengthy delays. Road travel was also hazardous, with council workers, like those pictured in Falmouth, Cornwall, busy clearing fallen trees and debris.
Ongoing Warnings and Further Disruption
As of Friday, 9 January 2026, the threat had not fully passed. The Met Office maintained amber warnings for snow across sections of Wales, the Midlands, and Yorkshire, where up to 30cm of snow was possible. Broader yellow warnings for wind, snow, and ice remained in place for many other regions, advising the public to stay cautious.
The combination of high winds, substantial snowfall, and ice has created one of the most disruptive weather events of the winter so far, with recovery efforts expected to continue throughout the weekend.
