A rare red weather warning for 'dangerous, stormy' winds has been issued as Storm Goretti batters the UK, leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity and prompting urgent safety calls.
Record Winds and Widespread Power Cuts
The Met Office confirmed that violent gusts are hitting parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, presenting a potential danger to life. A wind speed of 99mph was recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, setting a new record for the location.
By 10pm on Thursday, 8 January 2026, more than 51,000 properties across the South West were suffering power cuts. Earlier figures showed over 47,000 outages in the South West, 5,000 in the West Midlands, and 2,000 in Wales.
National Grid has deployed extra teams on standby. Roisin Quinn, National Grid's field operations director, stated: "We prepare year-round to ensure our teams are ready to respond quickly to any damage. If you experience a power cut, call 105."
Emergency Services Urge Public to Stay Indoors
Cornwall Council issued a stark warning, urging people to stay inside and not to travel. The authority reported increasing incidents of fallen trees, downed power lines, and debris blocking roads, which pose a serious risk to life.
The Met Office's red warning, active until 11pm, advises the public to expect:
- Damage to buildings and homes.
- Very large waves and flying debris.
- Further power cuts and public transport cancellations.
The warning stresses that dangerous weather is expected and action must be taken to stay safe.
Major Travel Disruption and School Closures
The storm's impact has caused severe transport chaos. Network Rail suspended all train services in Cornwall from 6pm on Thursday. In Devon, services on the Exeter-Okehampton and Exeter-Barnstaple routes were also halted.
Passengers were advised to complete journeys early, with services expected to remain disrupted on Friday morning. Replacement road transport will not be provided due to dangerous conditions.
Dozens of schools in Cornwall closed early on Thursday afternoon as the storm approached.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a "multi-hazard event", with significant impacts from snow in parts of Wales and the Midlands, alongside the extreme winds in the South West. The storm was named by French forecaster Meteo France.
