A severe winter storm named Storm Goretti has hammered the United Kingdom, unleashing destructive winds, heavy snowfall, and triggering a rare red weather warning. The tempest has caused extensive power outages, major travel disruption, and forced the closure of numerous schools.
Widespread Chaos and a Rare Red Alert
The Met Office took the exceptional step of issuing a red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds in the south-west of England, where gusts were recorded at speeds of up to 99mph. This alert signifies a significant threat to life. Concurrently, officials in the West Midlands warned of the "worst snowfall in a decade," with predictions of 5-10cm of snow on Friday and up to 15-25cm in some localised areas.
By 6am on Friday, the National Grid reported that over 43,000 properties were without power in the south-west. A further 14,000 addresses were affected in the West Midlands, with around 530 in Wales and more than 450 in the East Midlands also suffering outages. Engineers aimed to restore power to south-west England customers by 8am.
Transport Grinds to a Halt and Schools Shut
The storm's impact on the UK's transport network has been severe. Birmingham Airport's runway was closed for a period on Friday morning, while East Midlands Airport reopened its runway after an overnight closure due to heavy snow. Ferry operator DFDS confirmed all sailings between Dover and France were disrupted.
Dozens of schools across the Midlands and Wales announced they would not open on Friday due to the hazardous conditions. This extended a pattern of closures seen in Scotland, where many schools remained shut for a fifth consecutive day due to persistent wintry weather. In Aberdeenshire alone, more than 150 schools were closed, with dozens more affected in the Highlands, Aberdeen, and Moray.
Ongoing Warnings and a Slow Recovery
While the core of the storm is expected to move eastwards and ease throughout Friday, multiple weather warnings remain active across the nation. An amber warning for snow covers Wales and the Midlands, with widespread yellow warnings for snow, rain, wind, and ice in place elsewhere.
In Scotland, a fresh yellow warning for snow and ice came into force at 8pm on Thursday, lasting until midday Friday, following several days of "intense" snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. Stoke-on-Trent City Council had earlier warned of up to 3.5 inches (9cm) of snow and temperatures as low as -4°C.
The aftermath of Storm Goretti will be felt for some time, as utility companies work to reconnect tens of thousands of homes and transport services struggle to return to normal schedules following one of the most significant winter weather events in recent years.
