New snow and wind warnings have been issued across the United Kingdom as Storm Goretti approaches, prompting travel chaos with hundreds of flights grounded across Europe due to severe winter weather.
The Met Office has escalated alerts with amber warnings for strong winds in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and for snow in the Midlands and Wales, effective from Thursday evening. Yellow warnings for ice, snow, and rain cover vast swathes of the country, indicating widespread disruption ahead as the cold snap intensifies.
Travel networks are already feeling the strain, with Eurostar services facing cancellations and delays, and airports like Amsterdam’s Schiphol reporting over 700 flight cancellations. The RAC has warned drivers of treacherous conditions due to black ice, urging extreme caution on roads and advising motorists to slow down and leave extra space.
In Reading, nine children were injured in a collision between a school coach and a bus, with paramedics citing ‘very icy’ conditions at the scene. This incident underscores the dangers posed by the ongoing cold snap, which has led to multiple accidents across the UK, prompting police warnings about icy roads.
Education has been severely impacted, with more than 400 schools closed in northern Scotland, where some areas have seen the heaviest snowfall in years. Local communities, such as in Aberdeenshire, are relying on farmers for food deliveries as roads remain impassable, highlighting the social strain of the weather event.
Storm Goretti, named by Meteo-France, is expected to bring a multi-hazard system of heavy snow, rain, and winds gusting up to 90mph in exposed areas from Thursday into Friday. Forecasters predict accumulations of 10-30cm of snow in parts of Wales and the Midlands, with potential flooding in eastern England due to persistent rain.
This weather event is part of a prolonged Arctic blast that has pushed temperatures 4-10°C below average for January, with records like -12.5°C in Norfolk. The NHS has reported increased pressure from weather-related injuries and respiratory issues, while cold weather payments have been extended to over one million households to assist with heating costs.
As Storm Goretti moves in, further disruption is anticipated for Thursday and Friday, with commuters urged to plan ahead and check for updates. The situation remains fluid, with authorities monitoring developments and providing ongoing advice to ensure public safety amidst the challenging conditions.
