The Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings across the UK as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, intensifies into a ‘weather bomb’. The storm is expected to bring up to 30cm of snow in Wales and the Midlands, with winds reaching 100mph in exposed coastal areas of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
A rare red warning for ‘dangerous, stormy’ winds has been issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, effective from Thursday evening. Emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones in these areas, warning of potential damage to buildings, power lines, and coastal flooding from large waves. Winds of 99mph were recorded at St Mary’s airport on the Isles of Scilly, setting a new site record.
Amber snow warnings cover much of Wales, the West Midlands, and parts of South Yorkshire, with up to 20cm of snow expected in some areas. Birmingham Airport suspended runway operations on Thursday night due to heavy snow. National Rail has cancelled all train services in parts of south-west England, and passengers are advised to check journeys before travelling.
Over 47,000 properties were without power in the south-west by 9pm Thursday, with further outages in the West Midlands and Wales. National Grid has advised residents to keep torches and charged phones ready. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold weather health alerts until 11 January, warning of a potential rise in deaths, particularly among the elderly and those with health conditions.
Storm Goretti is expected to weaken by Friday, but travel disruption and power issues are likely to persist. The Met Office described it as a ‘multi-hazard event’, more powerful than Storm Ciarán in 2023 and the Great Storm of 1987.
