The Met Office has issued fresh yellow warnings for snow and ice across much of Scotland and northern England on Sunday, as the UK continues to recover from Storm Goretti. The warning, covering large parts of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, north-east and north-west England and Yorkshire, will be in force from 2am to 3pm.
A separate yellow warning for ice covers large parts of England and Wales from midday Friday to midday Saturday, as partially thawed snow refreezes, accompanied by wintry showers and freezing fog. In Northern Ireland, a snow and ice warning runs from 5pm Friday to 11am Saturday.
Storm Goretti brought widespread disruption, with RNLI volunteers in Cornwall responding to seven incidents in “hurricane strength” winds. The National Grid reported restoring power to 169,380 properties across the south-west, Midlands, and south Wales by noon Friday, with extra engineers drafted in.
Transport was severely affected, with rail services suspended, flights cancelled, and roads blocked by fallen trees and debris. Cornwall Council advised against travel on Friday. The storm also damaged the roof of Cornish Pirates rugby club in Penzance.
Liberal Democrat MP Gideon Amos urged the government to convene the Cobra emergency committee, saying the south-west is “routinely overlooked”. Meanwhile, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was activated in London and other areas to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.
