Storm Goretti has brought violent winds, ice, and heavy snow to the UK, leaving more than 65,000 homes without power. A rare red weather warning – the highest level – was issued for the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, with gusts of up to 99mph recorded at St Mary's Airport, a new record for the site.
Emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones in the affected areas, sounding an alarm even if devices were set to silent. The Met Office warned of a risk to life, substantial travel disruption, and widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Residents were advised to avoid travel and follow emergency services' advice.
National Grid reported over 65,000 properties without power in southwest England, with additional outages affecting 11,000 homes in the West Midlands and 2,600 in Wales. The storm, named by French forecaster Météo France, is part of a 'weather bomb' – explosive cyclogenesis where central pressure drops rapidly.
Travel chaos ensued as all trains in Cornwall were suspended from 6pm on Thursday, and services on Devon's Exeter-Okehampton and Exeter-Barnstaple routes were also halted. Avanti West Coast cancelled one in three trains between London, Birmingham, and Manchester. British Airways cancelled 30 flights from Heathrow.
Schools closed early in Cornwall and others in the Midlands and Wales shut on Friday. In Scotland, over 250 schools remained closed for a fifth day due to snow and ice. The RAC warned drivers of falling trees and vehicles being buffeted by gusts, urging motorists to avoid roads in red warning areas.
An amber snow warning remains in place from Thursday night into Friday across a swathe of the UK, with up to 30cm expected in the Midlands. Yellow warnings for wind and rain cover other regions. Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a multi-hazard event with significant impacts from snow, wind, and rain.
