Storm Goretti, a multi-hazard weather system, caused significant disruption across the UK, bringing exceptionally strong winds, heavy snowfall, and considerable rainfall. Named by Météo-France and characterized by an "explosive deepening phase of cyclogenesis" or "weather bomb," the storm made landfall on Thursday, January 8, 2026, with its effects lingering into the weekend.
The storm's impact was most severe in the southwest of England, Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England and Scotland. A rare Red severe weather warning for wind was issued for the Isles of Scilly and much of Cornwall, where gusts reached up to 99mph at St Mary's Airport, marking the highest recorded there since 1991. Elsewhere, strong winds of 50-60 mph affected southwest Wales and other southern English regions. Heavy snow accumulations prompted an Amber warning for Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England, with Lake Vyrnwy in Powys recording 16cm of snow, and other areas seeing significant falls. Scotland experienced notable snowfall, including 27cm at Altnaharra. Significant rainfall, particularly in southwest Wales and eastern England, contributed to hazardous driving conditions and localized flooding, with Cornwall recording 61.8mm at Colliford Dam. The combination of freezing temperatures and partially thawed snow led to widespread ice, with yellow warnings issued across vast areas.
The widespread severe weather resulted in extensive travel chaos, affecting both roads and trains with numerous cancellations and delays. At least 69 flights to or from Heathrow Airport were cancelled. Power outages impacted tens of thousands of properties, including over 30,000 in the South West and thousands more in the Midlands. Many schools across the UK, particularly in northern Scotland where Aberdeen City Council declared a major incident, were forced to close. Dangerous coastal conditions were reported due to very large waves. In response to the crisis, Downing Street offered support to homes without power, and there were calls for the Government to convene an emergency Cobra committee. While Storm Goretti's direct influence was expected to diminish, further snow and ice warnings were issued for the weekend, with another weather front anticipated to bring additional disruption on Sunday.