A rare red weather warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds is in place across parts of the UK this evening as Storm Goretti causes widespread disruption, leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity.
Record Winds and Widespread Power Cuts
The Met Office has issued its most severe alert for parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, warning of "violent gusts" that pose a potential danger to life. Winds of 99mph were recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, setting a new record for the location.
National Grid reported that more than 51,000 properties were without power across the South West by 10pm on Thursday, 8th January 2026. Earlier figures showed over 5,000 properties affected in the West Midlands and 2,000 in Wales.
Roisin Quinn, National Grid's field operations director, stated: "We understand how worrying severe weather can be. That's why our engineers, contact centre staff, and welfare teams are ready to support you, whatever the storm brings." The company has extra teams on standby and urged anyone experiencing a power cut to call 105.
Danger to Life and Travel Chaos
Cornwall Council has implored residents to stay indoors, citing increasing reports of fallen trees, downed power lines, and debris blocking roads. "These conditions pose a serious risk to life," a council statement read.
The red warning, active until 11pm, forecasts:
- Damage to buildings and homes.
- Very large waves and flying debris.
- Widespread power cuts and public transport cancellations.
In anticipation of the storm, Network Rail suspended all train services in Cornwall from 6pm on Thursday. Services on the Exeter-Okehampton and Exeter-Barnstaple routes in Devon were also halted. Passengers were advised not to travel late in the afternoon, with disruptions expected to continue into Friday morning.
A Multi-Hazard Event with Snow and Rain
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a "multi-hazard event." While the far South West bears the brunt of the winds, other parts of the UK face significant snow, rain, and ice.
"Storm Goretti will be a multi-hazard event, with the most significant impacts from snow in parts of Wales and the Midlands and the very strong winds in the far South West," Armstrong said. Up to 30cm of snow is possible in some areas, with weather warnings for wind, snow, rain, and ice covering much of the country, leading to likely "disruption and dangerous travelling conditions."
The storm, named by French forecaster Meteo France, has also led to the early closure of dozens of schools in Cornwall and triggered a UK Government Red Alert sent to mobile phones across the South West.
