The United Kingdom is preparing for another bout of severe winter weather, with Storm Goretti set to bring heavy snow and powerful winds to large parts of England and Wales on Thursday. This fresh threat follows days of widespread travel chaos and school closures caused by treacherous ice and heavy snowfall.
Widespread Disruption and Extended Warnings
The country is already reeling from the impacts of the cold snap. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 schools were closed from Oxfordshire to Orkney, with some pupils in northern Scotland seeing an extended Christmas break. Authorities in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have announced all schools will remain shut on Wednesday, with Aberdeenshire declaring a major incident due to heavy snow. The council warned rural communities could be cut off and power cuts were possible.
The Met Office has extended a yellow warning for ice across most of England, Wales, and southern Scotland until 10am Wednesday. A separate yellow warning for snow and ice covers northern Scotland until midnight, where up to 20cm of fresh snow and drifting from strong winds is forecast. Tuesday night was expected to be less cold than Monday, when temperatures plunged to minus 12.5C in Norfolk, the coldest night of winter so far.
Storm Goretti's Impending Arrival
Named by Météo-France, Storm Goretti is expected to cause significant disruption from Thursday. A deep area of low pressure will move across southern Britain, bringing a mix of rain, snow, and strong winds. The Met Office has issued snow warnings for large parts of England and Wales from 6pm Thursday until midday Friday.
Additionally, a yellow wind warning has been issued for Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly from 3pm Thursday until just before midnight. Police Scotland has urged people to follow travel advice, noting the impact of the snow is likely to be felt for several days in the north and north-east. The severe conditions have already led to the cancellation of seven midweek football matches in Scotland.
Community Response and Ongoing Challenges
In the face of the crisis, community efforts have shone through. Harriet Cross, the Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, praised more than 100 "heroic" farmers and contractors who have been rescuing stranded drivers, clearing roads, and transporting essential supplies in blizzard conditions.
"Our heroic farmers have gone above and beyond to help stranded travellers navigate through the treacherous conditions," Cross stated. "Not only have they been out rescuing drivers and clearing roads, but our farmers have also been working round the clock caring for their own livestock as they battle against some of the worst snowfall in recent memory."
As the nation contends with the ongoing travel chaos and looks ahead to the arrival of Storm Goretti, the public is advised to stay updated on the latest Met Office warnings and plan their journeys carefully.
