The United Kingdom is preparing for a weekend of further wintry hazards, including additional snowfall and widespread flooding, as tens of thousands of households continue to grapple with power outages in the aftermath of Storm Goretti.
Widespread Disruption and Ongoing Warnings
Severe conditions this week forced school closures and caused major travel disruption across the nation. The situation remains precarious, with 28,000 properties still without electricity in the South West on Saturday morning. National Grid figures also showed 1,700 homes off-grid in the West Midlands and 150 in the East Midlands, though power has been restored in Wales.
The Met Office has extended multiple yellow weather warnings. A warning for snow and ice remains in place until 3pm on Saturday for parts of northern England and much of Scotland, where a further 2-5cm of snow is forecast, potentially reaching 10-20cm on ground above 200 metres. A separate yellow warning for ice covers large parts of England and Wales until midday Saturday.
Flood Risk and Transport Chaos
Forecasters have warned that the combination of melting snow and expected rain could trigger significant flooding in the coming days. In response, the Environment Agency had issued 129 flood warnings for England on Saturday. Rail services are expected to face continued disruption throughout the weekend across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The wild weather has already left a trail of damage. Airports including Heathrow, Birmingham, and East Midlands faced cancellations and delays on Friday, with Birmingham's runway operating on a reduced basis. Dozens of schools remained closed, particularly in Scotland where over 250 were shut, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire.
Storm Damage and Record Conditions
Storm Goretti, named by French forecaster Meteo France, proved to be a destructive 'multi-hazard event'. It brought a peak gust of 99mph to St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly, the highest there since 1991. In Cornwall, the storm caused extensive damage, with residents on St Michael's Mount waking to find more than 80 trees felled.
Significant snow accumulations were recorded across the UK. In Scotland, Altnaharra in Sutherland saw 27cm, while Wales recorded 15cm at Lake Vyrnwy. The lowest temperature was -13.3C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire. Heavy rainfall was also notable, with 61.8mm recorded at Colliford Dam in Cornwall.
The UK Health Security Agency has extended its amber cold-health alert for all of England until Monday, warning of a potential 'rise in deaths' due to the prolonged cold spell. Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud stated the weekend would remain 'unsettled and cold', with wintry showers, frost, and a risk of further snow on Sunday, particularly across the north Midlands and higher ground.
