The Met Office has escalated weather warnings to amber ahead of the arrival of Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, which is set to bring a fresh wave of heavy snow and severe winds to the UK later this week.
This comes after parts of the country, particularly Scotland, were already grappling with significant snowfall and disruption. On Tuesday, Aberdeenshire Council declared a major incident following an amber warning for snow.
Storm Track and Expected Impacts
Named by the French meteorological service, Météo-France, Storm Goretti is forecast to sweep in from the southwest on Thursday. Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England noted the exact track remains uncertain, but the most likely scenario involves heavy rain spreading from the southwest on Thursday, turning to snow from around Wales across to East Anglia.
He warned of "significant falls" of snow and "severe gales around southern coasts". The Met Office stated that where rain turns to snow, accumulations of 10-15cm are likely widely, with 20-30cm possible in some areas, especially on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District.
Widespread Disruption and Safety Incidents
The severe conditions have already led to hazardous situations across the UK. In Kent, a school bus slid on black ice and crashed near Ashford, fortunately with no injuries reported. Later, in Reading, Berkshire, a school coach collided with a bus on icy roads, resulting in minor injuries to nine children, the coach driver, and eight adults.
Transport networks are under strain. National Rail reported disruption to services in northern Scotland due to heavy snow and strongly advised all passengers in England, Scotland, and Wales to check their journeys before travelling on Thursday. Hundreds of schools were closed in Shetland, Orkney, and Aberdeenshire.
The UK Health Security Agency has extended its amber cold health alert for all of England until midday on Sunday, highlighting the ongoing health risks.
Weather Warnings in Detail
The Met Office has a complex matrix of warnings in place. For Thursday, there are eight yellow warnings and two amber warnings active across the nation.
The amber warnings are for:
- Wind in Cornwall until 11pm Thursday.
- Snow across parts of the Midlands, Wales, northern England, and the South West from Thursday into Friday morning (until 9am).
Yellow warnings for snow, ice, rain, and wind cover vast swathes of the country, with many lasting from Thursday into Friday. The deepest snow so far was recorded in Tomintoul, Moray, with a depth of 46cm (18 inches) at 9am on Wednesday.
Amid the challenges, some have found opportunity in the conditions. In the Yorkshire Dales, an ice climbing instructor scaled a completely frozen waterfall at Gordale Scar. Meanwhile, animals like polar bears and snow leopards at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig enjoyed weather more typical of their natural habitats.
