A powerful winter storm named Storm Goretti has swept across the United Kingdom, bringing destructive winds, heavy snowfall, and widespread disruption to tens of thousands of people.
Red Warning Issued as Winds Hit 99mph
The Met Office took the rare step of issuing a red weather warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds in the south-west of England. Gusts were recorded at speeds of up to 99mph, posing a significant risk to life and property. An amber warning for snow was also active across Wales and the Midlands, with yellow warnings for snow, rain, wind, and ice covering much of the rest of the country.
Widespread Power Cuts and Travel Chaos
The storm's ferocity led to major infrastructure problems. According to the National Grid's website, over 43,000 properties were without power in the south-west at 6am on Friday. A further 14,000 addresses lost supply in the West Midlands, with around 530 affected in Wales and more than 450 in the East Midlands. National Grid aimed to restore power to south-west England customers by 8am.
Travel networks were severely impacted. Birmingham Airport's runway was closed on Friday morning, though passenger processing continued. East Midlands Airport's runway reopened shortly after 6am after an overnight closure due to heavy snow. Ferry operator DFDS reported that all sailings between Dover and France were disrupted.
"Worst Snowfall in a Decade" and School Closures
Officials in the West Midlands warned of the "worst snowfall in a decade," with 5-10cm falling widely on Friday and up to 15-25cm in some areas. Stoke-on-Trent City Council stated they were facing their most significant snowfall in ten years, with predictions of 3.5 inches (approx. 9cm) of snow and temperatures as low as -4°C.
This led to widespread school closures across the Midlands and Wales. The disruption extended north, where in Scotland, many schools remained closed for a fifth consecutive day on Friday due to ongoing wintry conditions. More than 250 schools in Scotland were shut, including over 150 in Aberdeenshire, with many pupils missing a full week at the start of the new term.
The stormy conditions were forecast to ease throughout Friday as the weather system moved eastwards. However, the Met Office maintained a yellow warning for snow and ice covering much of Scotland until midday on Friday.
