The UK was battered by a severe and 'multi-hazard' storm on Thursday, as Storm Goretti brought a dangerous mix of heavy rain, violent winds, and significant snowfall, causing widespread travel chaos and triggering a rare red weather warning.
Rare Red Warning and 'Weather Bomb' Impact
Named by Meteo France, Storm Goretti rapidly intensified into what meteorologists term a 'weather bomb'. The system posed such a severe threat that the Met Office took the exceptional step of issuing a red weather warning for wind in south-west England. This highest-level alert was active from 4pm until 11pm on Thursday for parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, forecasting 'dangerous, stormy' conditions and 'violent gusts' over a two to three-hour period.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, warned that Goretti would bring 'wet, windy and wintry weather' to many regions. He explained that the storm was pushing rain into a pool of cold air, leading to 'significant snow' on its northern edge, particularly from Thursday afternoon into Friday.
Widespread Amber and Yellow Alerts
Alongside the critical red warning, amber alerts for wind and snow were in force across large swathes of the country on Thursday, indicating a potential risk to life and property. The storm delivered extreme conditions, including:
- Winds of up to 100mph (160km/h) across exposed hills and coastal areas.
- Up to 30cm of snowfall in parts of Wales and the Midlands.
Further yellow warnings were also active. Scotland was under a yellow warning for snow and ice from 10pm Wednesday until midday Thursday, while Northern Ireland had a yellow ice warning from Wednesday through Thursday morning.
Major Travel Disruption Across All Networks
The storm's ferocity led to severe disruption across the UK's transport infrastructure. National Highways issued its own amber warning for snow in the West and East Midlands, in effect from 6pm Thursday until 9am Friday. The agency warned that routes around Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham would see 'particularly difficult driving conditions', urging drivers to check forecasts and expect considerable delays.
Rail services were heavily affected. National Rail advised passengers to check their journeys before travelling, and Eurostar warned of likely delays and cancellations on services to and from London St Pancras. While major airports planned to operate normally, regional airports in Jersey and Guernsey were forced to close at 6pm on Thursday due to the extreme conditions brought by Storm Goretti.
The UK continues to grapple with the aftermath of this powerful winter storm, with authorities urging the public to remain cautious and stay updated on the latest weather and travel advice.
