The Met Office has issued a series of amber weather warnings as the UK braces for the arrival of Storm Goretti, described by forecasters as a 'multi-hazard event' bringing heavy snowfall, damaging winds, and a potential risk to life.
Widespread Disruption Expected
Storm Goretti, named by Meteo France, is set to sweep in from the south-west on Thursday, 8 January 2026. The system will collide with cold air already over the UK, triggering significant snowfall. The Midlands could see accumulations of up to 30cm (12 inches), with 5-10cm likely across Wales and the Midlands more widely.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill warned that 20cm or more of settling snow is "enough to cause some severe disruption." An amber warning for heavy snow is in force from 8pm Thursday until 9am Friday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands, and South Yorkshire.
Dangerous Winds and Travel Chaos
Alongside the snow, powerful winds will pose a major hazard. Gusts of 50-60mph are expected in south-western areas on Thursday afternoon and evening, increasing to 60-70mph along exposed coasts and hills. A separate amber wind warning for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday warns of gusts potentially reaching 80-90mph in exposed places.
The combination of hazards promises major travel disruption. National Highways has issued an amber alert for snow in the West and East Midlands from 6pm Thursday to 9am Friday, warning of "particularly difficult driving conditions" around Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham. The A628 Woodhead Pass will be closed from 8pm Thursday due to the severe conditions.
Trains and planes face delays or cancellations, rural communities could be cut off, and power cuts with mobile signal disruption are likely.
Further Warnings and Health Alerts
Beyond the amber alerts, extensive yellow warnings are in place. A yellow snow and ice warning covers Scotland until midday on Thursday, while Northern Ireland has a yellow ice warning until 10am Thursday. A broad yellow snow warning for much of England and Wales runs from 5pm Thursday to midday Friday.
Yellow wind warnings cover southwest England, and yellow rain warnings are active for eastern England and west Wales. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued amber cold weather health alerts until 11 January, indicating severe impacts on health and social care are expected, with a predicted rise in deaths among vulnerable groups.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong summarised the threat, stating Storm Goretti's mix of heavy rain, strong winds, and snow justifies its classification as a complex and dangerous multi-hazard event. The public is urged to avoid travel in warning areas and stay updated on the latest forecasts.
