The United Kingdom is experiencing widespread ice and freezing temperatures following Storm Goretti, which brought heavy snow, ice, and strong winds across the country. Tens of thousands of premises remain without power, primarily in the South West of England, while the country transitions towards milder, wetter, and windier conditions from Sunday. Authorities have reported one fatality linked to the storm and significant damage in affected regions.
Storm Goretti's Impact
Storm Goretti delivered days of heavy snow, ice, and strong winds across much of the UK. A rare red warning for wind, with speeds recorded up to 99 mph (159 km/h), was issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly during the storm's arrival.
One man died in the Mawgan area of Helston, Cornwall, on Thursday evening after a tree fell onto his caravan.
Widespread power outages affected tens of thousands of properties across England and Wales. National Grid reported restoring power to nearly 170,000 properties. However, approximately 20,000 to 34,000 premises remained without electricity, with the majority in the South West of England. Specific areas still affected included around 2,000 premises in the West Midlands, over 1,000 in the East Midlands, and 130 in Wales. Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, stated that some properties in mid-Cornwall might experience "electricity issues" until Sunday.
Cornwall Council characterized Storm Goretti as one of the most severe the county had experienced in recent memory. Crews have been engaged in clearing fallen trees and conducting emergency repairs. Specific damage included a family in St Buryan reporting their roof and chimney blown off, and St Michael's Mount, an island near Penzance, losing approximately 80% of its trees.
Disruptions and Risks
Hundreds of schools across the UK were closed ahead of the weekend due to heavy snow. National Rail warnings indicated that travel disruption is possible until Monday.
The transition to milder temperatures is anticipated to present a risk of flooding in certain areas due to melting snow from Storm Goretti. The public has been advised to monitor local flood warnings.
Weather Conditions and Warnings
Overnight into Saturday, temperatures reached -8.1°C in Loch Glascarnoch, Scotland, and -7°C in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland, marking Northern Ireland's coldest night of the season.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice were active across most of the country until Saturday afternoon. An amber warning for snow and ice in north-western Scotland was downgraded. A more severe amber warning for snow will affect parts of central Scotland and the Highlands from Sunday 03:00 until 14:00.
Specific warnings issued by the Met Office included:
- Snow and Ice: Scotland, North of England, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber (Friday 12:00 to Saturday 15:00)
- Ice: Midlands, London and South East England, East of England, North West and South West England, Wales and Yorkshire and Humber (Friday 12:00 to Saturday 12:00)
- Snow and Ice: Northern Ireland (Friday 17:00 to Saturday 11:00)
- Snow and Ice: Scotland, Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber and North of England (Sunday 02:00 to Sunday 15:00)
Yellow warnings for rain and wind across much of the country are set to expire by Monday morning.
Forecast Outlook
From Sunday, milder air is anticipated to move in from the west, bringing wet and blustery conditions across most of the UK. While a spell of snow is possible, it is expected to quickly turn to rain in most areas, though snow may persist longer in north-eastern regions and over high ground.
By Sunday afternoon, temperatures in the south west are projected to reach 12°C (53.6°F), while northern regions are expected to remain colder. The upcoming week is forecast to feature continued wind, rain, and generally "unsettled" conditions, with temperatures projected to be between 9-11°C in the south and 6-8°C elsewhere. Milder conditions are forecast to extend across the entire UK by Monday, with extreme cold anticipated to subside.