The Met Office has issued red and amber weather warnings across the UK as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, evolves into a 'weather bomb'. Winds of up to 100mph (160km/h) are expected in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, while up to 30cm of snow is forecast for Wales and the Midlands. The storm is described as a 'multi-hazard event', potentially more powerful than Storm Ciarán in 2023 and the Great Storm of 1987.
A rare red warning for 'dangerous, stormy' winds has been issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, effective from Thursday evening. An emergency alert was sent to mobile phones in the Isles of Scilly at 3pm and in Cornwall at 5pm. The Met Office warned of damage to buildings, power lines, and coastal areas from large waves. At 9pm, over 47,000 properties in the south-west were without power, according to National Grid.
Amber snow warnings cover much of Wales and the Midlands, with up to 30cm of snow expected. Birmingham Airport suspended its runway due to heavy snow. National Highways issued an amber snow warning for the Midlands, advising difficult driving conditions in Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham. Rail services are cancelled across Wales, Cornwall, and north-west England, with delays expected on Eurostar routes from London. Jersey and Guernsey airports will close at 6pm.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold weather health alerts until 11 January, warning of severe effects on health and social care services, with a potential rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over. The storm is expected to wane by Friday, but travel disruption and power outages are likely to continue.
