The UK is braced for a severe bout of winter weather as Storm Goretti sweeps in, threatening to dump up to eight inches of snow and bring bone-chilling temperatures as low as -12C. The Met Office has issued a series of warnings, anticipating significant travel disruption, potential power cuts, and the isolation of rural communities from Thursday night into Friday.
Widespread Disruption and School Closures
The deep area of low pressure, named by Meteo France, is set to bring a dangerous mix of further snow, strong winds, and heavy rain to southern parts of the UK. The impact is already being felt, with hundreds of schools closed due to the conditions and unlikely to reopen before Monday. The Met Office fears the storm will lead to widespread problems, particularly for travel and infrastructure.
This follows an exceptionally cold start to the week, where temperatures plunged to -12.5C in Marham, Norfolk on Monday – colder than parts of Iceland – and -11C in the Scottish Highlands. The cold Arctic air mass remains firmly in place over the country.
Key Areas at Risk and Snowfall Timeline
The Midlands is expected to be the worst-hit region. The Met Office forecasts that parts of Worcestershire and Warwickshire could see an accumulation of eight inches of snow by midday on Friday. Rural communities in these counties and surrounding areas face a high risk of being cut off.
Similarly, parts of southwest Wales, including the South Wales Valleys, may experience heavy snowfall from Thursday night. The storm will then track eastwards overnight, with snowfall becoming more widespread in the early hours of Friday.
By the Friday morning rush hour, the brunt of Storm Goretti will be battering the East Midlands and East of England. Northamptonshire could see around six inches of snow by Friday afternoon. Further north, regions like North Yorkshire are also in line for a dusting.
Met Office Warnings and Forecast
The Met Office has at least one weather warning active each day until Saturday. Chief forecaster Jason Kelly stated: "A further spell of snow is expected to move east across central and northern Scotland today. Amber warnings are in place until 7pm this evening."
He added: "Elsewhere, snow showers will be mixed with rain and sleet and it will be another very cold day, with strengthening winds too. Overnight, cold air pushes back in with temperatures widely dipping below freezing again." This brings a renewed risk of ice, with a yellow warning covering much of the UK into Wednesday morning.
Despite slightly warmer air temperatures on Friday, the wind chill will make it feel as cold as -12C. The public is urged to stay updated on the latest warnings, avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas, and check on vulnerable neighbours as the severe weather takes hold.
