The United Kingdom was plunged into chaos on Friday as Storm Goretti battered the nation with hurricane-force winds and heavy snowfall, triggering mass flight cancellations, school closures, and leaving nearly 150,000 households without power.
Record Winds and Widespread Disruption
Arriving on Thursday under a rare red "danger to life" weather warning from the Met Office, the storm saw winds of around 100mph lash the south west, while snow blanketed Scotland, the Midlands, and Wales. A peak gust of 99mph was recorded at St Marys on the Isles of Scilly, the highest since 1991. Even more staggering, a weather station in Cornwall reported hurricane-force gales of 123mph on Thursday evening.
The fallout was severe and immediate. Cornwall Council leader Leigh Frost reported "major disruption" to roads, coastal areas, and local infrastructure. The ferocious winds tore large chunks off the roof of the grandstand at the Cornish Pirates rugby club in Penzance.
Transport Network Brought to a Standstill
Travel chaos ensued across the country on Friday. At least 69 flights scheduled to operate to or from Heathrow Airport were cancelled, disrupting an estimated 9,000 passengers. While East Midlands and Birmingham airports reopened runways after snow closures, road and rail networks struggled.
Key roads in Cornwall, northern England, and Scotland were shut due to snow, ice, fallen trees, and debris. National Rail warned that train services across England, Wales, and Scotland could be affected throughout the day. The disruption even extended to the justice system, with no remand prisoners transported to Birmingham Crown Court.
Around 250 schools, mostly in Scotland, remained closed. Significant snow accumulations were recorded, including 27cm at Altnaharra in Sutherland and 15cm at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys.
Further Warnings and Flood Risk
The Met Office stated that Storm Goretti "continues to cause problems" with a mix of rain, sleet, and snow. Chief forecaster Steve Willington warned of more snow on Sunday for Scotland, with 10-20cm possible over higher ground, likely causing ongoing disruption.
He also highlighted a new danger: "Those in central and southern England and Wales will see this fall as rain, in what will be a wet Sunday for many." This combination of melting snow and rain increases the flood risk in the coming days.
Yellow weather warnings for snow, ice, and freezing fog remain in force across much of the UK throughout Saturday, with a separate yellow snow and ice warning for Scotland on Sunday.
