Storm Goretti has caused widespread disruption across the United Kingdom, bringing hurricane-force winds, heavy snow, and travel chaos. The Met Office issued a rare red 'danger to life' warning as winds of up to 100mph hit the South West, while snow blanketed Scotland, the Midlands, and Wales.
A peak gust of 99mph was recorded at St Marys on the Isles of Scilly, the highest since 1991, and a weather station in Cornwall reported hurricane-force gales of 123mph. Nearly 150,000 households lost power, with 37,000 properties still without electricity in the South West as of Friday evening.
Travel disruption was severe, with at least 69 flights cancelled at Heathrow Airport, affecting over 9,000 passengers. East Midlands and Birmingham airports reopened after snow closures, but key roads remained closed in Cornwall, northern England, and Scotland due to snow, ice, and fallen trees. Around 250 schools, mostly in Scotland, stayed shut on Friday.
Snow accumulations reached 27cm at Altnaharra in Sutherland, and 15cm at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys. The Met Office warned of further snow on Sunday, with a yellow warning in place for much of Scotland. Chief forecaster Steve Willington said 2-5cm of snow could accumulate at low levels, with 10-20cm over higher ground, likely causing ongoing disruption.
Yellow weather warnings for snow, ice, and rain cover most of the UK until Saturday, with a risk of flooding from melting snow and rain. The combination of severe weather has also affected the criminal justice system, with no remand prisoners being transported to Birmingham Crown Court due to road conditions.
