The Met Office has taken the exceptional step of issuing a rare red weather warning, its most severe alert, as Storm Goretti prepares to batter parts of the UK with winds of up to 100mph.
Immediate Danger to Life from Flying Debris
The forecaster has warned of a risk to life from flying debris and structural damage as exceptionally strong northwesterly winds are forecast to hit the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. The red warning is active from 4pm until 11pm on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Residents in the affected areas have been told to expect roofs to be blown off, power lines to come down, and very large waves to dangerously batter coastal roads and seafronts. Roads and bridges are expected to close, with significant disruption to public transport.
What a Met Office Red Warning Means
Red weather warnings are only imposed in the most extreme circumstances. The last time the Met Office issued one was in January 2025 during Storm Éowyn for central Scotland. Another was issued for south-west England and Wales in December 2024 during Storm Darragh.
Meteorologist Alex Burkill stated that Storm Goretti will bring a period of "wet, windy and wintry weather" following a prolonged cold snap. The Met Office has advised people to avoid travel while conditions are at their worst and to secure loose items outside their homes.
Broader Wintry Impacts Across the UK
While the red warning is confined to the south-west, the storm is expected to bring disruptive conditions much more widely. Amber and yellow warnings for wind, snow and ice are in force elsewhere.
Forecasters warn that up to 30cm (12 inches) of snow could fall in the Midlands, potentially creating a belated white Christmas scenario. The broader yellow wind warning remains in place until Friday morning.
The public is urged to prepare for potential power cuts by gathering essential supplies and to follow all official safety advice as the severe weather unfolds.
