Storm Goretti has triggered a rare red weather warning for parts of the UK, with record-breaking 99 mph winds leaving tens of thousands of homes without power. The Met Office issued the highest-level alert for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, warning of life-threatening conditions as the storm unleashes what forecasters call a "weather bomb" across Britain.
The storm left over 40,000 properties in the South West without power by Thursday evening, with another 2,000 affected in the West Midlands and 1,500 in Wales. Network Rail suspended all trains in Cornwall and on the Exeter-Okehampton and Exeter-Barnstaple routes in Devon from 6pm Thursday, with disruptions expected to continue Friday morning.
Major London stations face severe chaos. Eurostar delayed and cancelled widespread services at St Pancras International. Great Western Railway warned the 9:45pm Penzance to London Paddington service and the 11:45pm return journey could be delayed or cancelled. South Western Railway axed multiple services, including the 7:20pm Weymouth to Waterloo train and several evening departures from Waterloo to coastal destinations.
Multi-hazard event
The storm combines extreme winds with heavy snow and rain. The amber snow warning, active from 8pm Thursday until 9am Friday, covers parts of Wales, the Midlands, and Yorkshire. Forecasters predict ten to 15 cm of snow widely, with up to 30 cm on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: "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, though heavy rain in some parts of Wales and East Anglia also has the potential to bring disruption to many."
A yellow wind warning covers the rest of the south coast and Wales, with gusts up to 70 mph forecast. The 99 mph winds recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly set a new record for the site.
Rare red alert
Red weather warnings are the Met Office's highest level and extremely rare. The last one was issued in January 2025 for Storm Eowyn, which hit parts of central and southern Scotland. The service warns that red alerts indicate "dangerous weather is expected and action should be taken to keep safe from the impact of it."
The Met Office said: "It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities."
The storm qualifies as a "weather bomb" - a phenomenon where central pressure in a low-pressure area drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. Storm Goretti's pressure fell 36 millibars between Wednesday 6pm and Thursday 6pm, creating winds the Met Office described as "strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage."
Dozens of schools in Cornwall closed early Thursday afternoon, with dozens more across the Midlands and Wales announcing Friday closures.
The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold weather health alert for all regions of England until January 11.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
