Storm Goretti has brought the UK its heaviest snowfall in a decade, with tens of thousands of homes still without power as ice and freezing temperatures persist. The storm, which has lashed the country with snow, ice and strong winds over the past two days, has left more than 34,000 properties in the South West without electricity, along with thousands more in the Midlands and Wales.
The National Grid said it had restored power to almost 170,000 properties and was working 'tirelessly' to fix remaining issues. Approximately 2,000 premises in the West Midlands, over 1,000 in the East Midlands and 130 in Wales were still affected. The MP for St Austell and Newquay, Noah Law, warned that properties across mid Cornwall could face electricity issues until Sunday.
Cornwall Council described the storm as 'one of the most severe' in living memory, with crews working around the clock to clear fallen trees and carry out emergency repairs. A man died after a tree fell onto a caravan in Cornwall on Thursday evening, when the county was under a rare red weather warning for wind. St Michael's Mount, an island near Penzance, lost approximately 80% of its trees.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice cover most of the country until Saturday afternoon, with a more severe amber warning for snow issued in parts of Scotland for Sunday. Temperatures dropped to -8.1C in Loch Glascarnoch, Scotland, while Northern Ireland recorded its coldest night of the season at -7C in Katesbridge.
Milder weather is expected from Sunday, with low pressure bringing wet and windy conditions. Snow may fall but will likely turn to rain in most areas, except in north-eastern regions and over high ground where disruption may continue. By Monday, milder weather is expected across the whole of the UK.
