People can expect roofs to be blown off,flying debris and ‘very large waves’ battering coastal roads and seafronts.: (Picture: Russell Clake/BNPS)
The Met Office has issued a rare red weather alert due to extreme winds brought by Storm Goretti.
The highest gust speed as a result of Storm Goretti is currently 99mph,the Met Office said,recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly.
In Cornwall,power cables and trees were torn down by high winds as huge waves crashed into ports.
According to the National Grid’s website,more than 40,000 properties in the South West were without power at around 8pm,with a further 2,000 affected in the West Midlands and 1,500 in Wales.
Birmingham Airport grounded all the flights due to heavy snow on Thursday night.
Large waves as Storm Goretti hits Plymouth,Devon (Picture: William Dax / SWNS)
Snowy conditions in Rassau,Ebbw Vale in South Wales (Picture: Claire Hayhurst/PA Wire)Locals in Pembrokeshire,Wales,even reported thundersnow – a rare phenomenon which occurs when heavy rainfall usually associated with a thunderstorm instead comes down as snow.Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have the red warning in place until 11pm.Thundersnow!⚡❄️Pembrokeshire Never experienced anything like this…😰#uksnow #walesnow #thundersnow #lightning#pembrokeshire #snow pic.twitter.com/OXONFBBzFM— Harvey Harber (@HarberHarv7128) January 8,2026People can expect roofs to be blown off,flying debris and ‘very large waves’ battering coastal roads and seafronts.Red weather warnings are the most severe possible and are only imposed in exceptional circumstances.Roughly half a million mobile phones have been ‘pinged’ by the Met Office.The emergency warnings cause devices inside the storm zone to blare loudly for ten seconds.
People still need to go to Primark despite the snow in Northampton (Picture: Jacqueline Lawrie/LNP)But Primary School teacher James Kitto,57,told Metro his phone never sounded at 5pm despite huge waves crashing into Porthlaven.He said: ‘I didn’t get the warning through on my phone and I had family and friends calling me not take and any risks,which I won’t.’He added two roads leading into and out of Porthleven have been blocked by fallen trees.A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘In light of the damaging winds and associated disruption,the Cabinet Office is issuing two Emergency Alerts to people in affected areas.‘The first was sent at approximately 3pm on Thursday January 8 to people in the Isles of Scilly. The second will be sent at approximately 5pm on Thursday January 8 to people in Cornwall.‘The Emergency Alert system will send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas,containing information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe.’
A red weather warning for Cornwall has been issued by the Met Office due to Storm Goretti (Picture: Datawrapper)
Storm Goretti is expected to bring wintry weather to much of the UK today with amber and yellow weather warnings issued throughout the country (Picture: Met Office)The last time the Met Office issued a red alert was January last year during Storm Éowyn for the central belt of Scotland.There was also one issued for south-west England and south-west Wales during Storm Darragh in December 2024.The Met Office has said: ‘Storm Goretti will bring a period of exceptionally strong northwesterly winds to the Isles of Scilly and parts of Cornwall on Thursday evening,with peak gusts of 80-100 mph or more in exposed areas.‘Winds are expected to increase rapidly from 30-40 mph with violent gusts that may persist for 2-3 hours before easing. Winds will remain strong with the broader yellow warning in force until Friday morning.‘In addition,very large waves will bring dangerous conditions to some coastal areas.’Almost 100 schools have closed across Cornwall while Cornwall Council has said it will be releasing updates throughout the storm.National rail earlier announced that all Cornish trains will be suspended from 6pm until Friday morning.The Met Office has advised residents to avoid travelling by road while conditions are at their worst.People have been told to check for loose items outside their homes and gather emergency items you might need during a power cut.Forecasters have described Storm Goretti as a ‘weather bomb’ – also known as explosive cyclogenesis – meaning when a storm’s central pressure drops by 24 millibars in 24 hours.The plummeting pressure is caused by a super-strong jet stream sucking air out from the storm column,which leads to even more air being drawn from the wider area.Storm Goretti is expected to bring wintry weather to much of the UK today and tomorrow with amber and yellow weather warnings issued elsewhere.As much as 30cm of snow could fall in the Midlands,in what’s being dubbed a belated white Christmas.Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the storm will bring ‘wet,windy and wintry weather’ after a days-long cold snap.There are amber warnings for heavy snow from Thursday evening into Friday,covering parts of Wales,the Midlands and South Yorkshire.Snowfall means trains and planes could be delayed or cancelled and rural communities may be cut off.National Highways has issued its own amber warning for snow in the West and East Midlands,lasting from 6pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday.
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