A rare red warning for “dangerous, stormy” winds has been issued by the Met Office for part of the UK with Storm Goretti already bringing 99mph gusts, and leaving more than 25,000 properties without power.
The warning, from 4pm until 11pm on Thursday, says “violent gusts” over two to three hours will hit parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The storm, named by French weather forecaster Meteo France, has been described as a "multi-hazard event" by the Met Office, with as much of 30cm of snow possible for parts of the UK.
Weather warnings have been issued for snow, wind, rain and ice across the country, ahead of likely “disruption and dangerous travelling conditions”.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “This is a complex spell of severe weather and I'd advise people in the warning areas to keep up to date with the forecast and messages from local authorities.”
The storm is already bringing a “weather bomb” to the UK, including gusts up to 99mph. Also known as explosive cyclogenesis, a weather bomb is caused when the central pressure in an area of low pressure falls rapidly. The pressure has to fall by 24 millibars in 24 hours to qualify.
Torrential downpours have already hit London for the evening rush hour as the storm moves in.
According to the BBC, Storm Goretti will see a pressure drop of 36 millibars in the 24 hours from 6pm on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday.
Follow the latest updates below...
Key Points
- Storm Goretti weather bomb to hit UK as Met Office issues red 'danger to life' alert
- Map shows London surrounded by weather warnings as Storm Goretti 'snow bomb' set to hit UK
- Two children rescued from frozen pond in east London
- BBC presenter 'forced to sleep in studio' as Storm Goretti brings snow and travel chaos
Yellow weather warning for ice in place for London and South East England
11:25 , Megan HoweIce is expected overnight into Saturday, the Met Office has said.
Snow flurries which are expected on Friday are likely to freeze overnight, as temperatures fall below freezing.
The Met Office has urged people to remain vigilant as icy conditions increase the risk of slips and falls especially on untreated roads or cycle paths.
Eight flood alerts in place for London
10:58 , Megan HoweEight flood alerts have been issued for London and surrounding areas, with flooding possible following heavy rain brought by Storm Goretti.
The Environment Agency says river levels remain high, and further rainfall could lead to flooding of low-lying land, roads and footpaths in affected areas.
Residents are being urged to remain vigilant and take precautions where necessary.
The flood alerts currently in place are:
- Chertsey Bourne (updated 9:57am)
- Lower River Medway (updated 8:27am)
- River Bourne from Hadlow to East Peckham (updated 7:34am)
- River Darent from Westerham to Dartford (updated 9:21am)
- River Mole and its tributaries, from Kinnersley Manor to South Hersham (updated 9:36am)
- Rivers Eden and Eden Brook (updated 10:39am)
- The Rivers Wid and Can (updated 8:19am)
- Upper River Colne and Radlett Brook (updated 8:14am)
More than 9,000 passengers disrupted by cancelled flights at Heathrow
10:40 , Megan HoweAt least 69 flights scheduled to operate to or from Heathrow airport on Friday have been cancelled.
This is likely to have disrupted more than 9,000 passengers.
The majority of the cancellations are short-haul flights by British Airways, which is the largest airline at Heathrow.
Storm Goretti 'continues to cause problems', the Met Office has said
10:36 , Megan HoweStorm Goretti "continues to cause problems" as a mixture of rain, sleet and snow batters some areas, the Met Office said.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin said the storm will continue to clear throughout Friday, but many still face a "wet, cold, miserable day".
He said: "Storm Goretti continues to cause problems through Friday morning, particularly across parts of eastern England, where we are seeing a mixture of rain, sleet, and still some snow falling.
"The heavy snow over the West Midlands and Wales has now eased but of course, is still lying on the floor and still causing some disruption.
"Gradually, through the day, the storm will continue to clear away, but it's going to still be a wet, cold miserable day across much of eastern England, and still icy across parts of northern Britain as well."
In Pictures: Widespread disruption caused across the UK
10:20 , Megan HoweStorm Goretti has caused widespread disruption across the UK, with flights and trains cancelled, schools closed, and thousands of homes left without power.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain in force across much of the country, with alerts in Scotland extended through to Sunday.
The storm, which made landfall yesterday, has brought what officials in the West Midlands have described as the “worst snowfall in a decade.”
Here’s a look at some of the disruption so far:
Employers 'must not punish workers' who cannot travel into work
10:07 , Megan HoweThe Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said employers “must show understanding” for those whoa re unable to travel into work in severe weather conditions.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “This will be a stressful time for many people – especially with forecasters sounding the alarm. Employers must show basic common sense and understanding.
“No one should be pressured into making dangerous journeys. And workers shouldn’t be punished with lost pay or forced to take holiday because the weather makes travel impossible.
“Good bosses will already have bad weather policies in place so staff know where they stand. They will also recognise that when schools are closed some parents will not be able to work as they have to care for their children.”
New weather warnings for snow and ice issued
09:51 , Megan HoweFresh weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office for much of Scotland and the north of England on Sunday.
A yellow warning covering large parts of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, north east and north west England and Yorkshire will come into force at 2am on Sunday, expected to run until 3pm.
All London flights cancelled and trains affected amid Storm Goretti causes chaos
09:33 , Megan HoweStorm Goretti has hit the UK, bringing heavy snow and strong winds and causing travel disruption across the country.
There are yellow warnings for snow, ice, rain and wind around the country, with air and rail services seriously affected.
All travellers are highly recommended to check their whole journey before setting off, with a high number of cancellations and reduced services.
All London flights and train cancellations in Storm Goretti chaos
In pictures: Commuters brace wet and windy conditions this morning
09:10 , Megan HoweCommuters have been pictured braving the wintry conditions this morning amid Storm Goretti.
Power restored to almost 150,000 properties
08:52 , Megan HoweIt’s good news from the National Grid.
Power has been restored to 147,983 properties across the South West, Midlands, and South Wales after Storm Goretti disrupted access to some sites on Thursday evening, National Grid said.
It said teams will "continue to work tirelessly" throughout the day on Friday to restore power to the remaining properties without power.
Dozens of schools closed across the UK as Storm Goretti hits
08:49 , Megan HoweDozens of schools in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Midlands, Devon and Cornwall have been closed today as Storm Goretti batters the UK.
Almost 100 schools in Cornwall closed early on Thursday ahead of the arrival of the storm.
More than 250 schools are due to remain closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray.
Many pupils will have had a whole week off school at the start of the new term, though remote learning has been provided in many cases.
A total of 278 schools were closed on Thursday across northern Scotland, or around 11% of the school estate - down on the 440 that were closed on Wednesday.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney will visit the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) Amey depot in Aberdeen on Friday to hear about recovery efforts as part of the wider ongoing response to the severe weather in northern Scotland.
Dozens of British Airways flights cancelled at Heathrow
08:28 , Megan HoweBritish Airways has cancelled 25 departures and 27 arrivals scheduled to operate at London’s Heathrow airport on Friday.
The vast majority of affected flights were on short-haul routes.
What is the forecast for London this morning?
08:19 , Megan HoweLondon appears to have avoided the worst of the disruption caused by Storm Goretti, with the most severe impacts felt elsewhere.
Rain across the capital is easing, but it will remain cold and breezy throughout the day.
Commuters may encounter brief spells of sleet or snow, particularly in higher areas, with damp and blustery conditions persisting for much of the morning and early afternoon.
Western parts of London are expected to turn drier later today, although skies will remain mostly cloudy and temperatures will struggle to reach 4°C.
This evening and overnight, winds will ease, but scattered showers could bring icy patches on untreated roads and pavements.
Anger rises over ungritted pavements and cycle paths amid icy weather
07:56 , Megan HoweCouncils are facing backlash from Londoners over a lack of grit on pavements, roads and train station platforms as they braved icy conditions on their commute this week.
Many likening its streets, pavements and cycle paths to an ice rink as rain and plunging temperatures caused dangerously slippy conditions underfoot.
Each borough council is responsible for managing and gritting local roads and nearby pavements, typically in advance, with priority given to main routes and hills.
However, residents have hit out at London councils, with some claiming they were “sliding all over the place” due to poorly gritted surfaces.
Anger rises over ungritted pavements and cycle paths amid icy weather
Passenger left 'stranded' at Birmingham Airport
07:45 , Megan HoweA passenger revealed how they were left stranded on a grounded flight at Birmingham Airport yesterday.
“Stranded at Birmingham Airport. We are not flying tonight and they won’t let us off the plane because it’s icy and we may fall over. I’m not joking. Over 3 hours now,” they wrote on X.
All runway operations at Birmingham Airport were suspended yesterday due to the heavy snowfall.
Londoners told 'do not travel until this afternoon'
07:38 , Megan HoweLondon Northwestern Railway/ West Midlands Railway is advising passengers not to travel until this afternoon as the network has been affected by Storm Goretti.
Any trains that do run may be delayed, cancelled or altered at late notice.
The customer advice is as follows:
London Northwestern Railway:
- Birmingham New Street and London Euston - Reduced service
- Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street - Service suspended until this afternoon
- Bedford and Bletchley
West Midlands Railway trains are unable to operate any services until this afternoon and passengers are advised do NOT travel until this afternoon.
Flight delays and cancellations across UK airports - what we know so far
07:27 , Megan HoweHeathrow Airport
Adverse weather has had a limited impact on London compared with other parts of the UK, and operations at Heathrow are currently running as normal.
However, some flights — particularly those to European destinations affected by severe wintry conditions, including Paris and Amsterdam — have been cancelled.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status in advance and contact their airline directly with any questions or concerns.
Birmingham Airport
All runway operations at Birmingham Airport were suspended yesterday due to heavy snow from Storm Goretti.
Passengers due to travel have been asked to contact their airline for the status of their flights
On its social media channels, the airport said the decision came to prioritise the safety of colleagues and customers.
The runway remains suspended this morning but security processing has resumed, the airport said in an updates statement.
“Our teams are completing final snow clearance and safety checks on the airfield. Runway operations are still suspended at this time however passenger security processing has commenced.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however the safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority. Passengers due to travel should contact their airline regarding the status of flights.”
East Midlands Airport
In a statement issued just after 6am, East Midlands Airport said its runway had reopened after being closed overnight due to heavy snow on the runway.
Passengers were warned delays may linger throughout the day.
Manchester Airport
Some passengers are facing cancellations this morning, although airport operations are continuing as normal.
Tens of thousands of households without power
06:57 , Megan HoweHouseholds up and down the country have been left without power this morning, as Storm Goretti continues to batter the UK.
More than 43,000 homes in the South West were without power at 6am on Friday, according to the National Grid's website, while about 14,000 had no power in the West Midlands and 530 were without power in Wales.
More than 450 addresses in the East Midlands were also without power heading into Friday morning, with National Grid telling customers in the south west of England that it was aiming to have services restored by 8am.
Good morning
06:49 , Megan HoweStorm Goretti is sweeping across the UK, bringing widespread disruption.
Flights have been cancelled, schools closed, and thousands of homes are without power.
Stay with us for the latest weather updates and developments as the situation unfolds.
Number of homes without power now more than 44,000
Thursday 8 January 2026 20:23 , Alastair LockhartThere are now more than 44,000 homes without power in the southwest of England, according to the National Grid.
A further 680 homes in Wales and 1,400 in the West Midlands have also lost power.
Snow continues to fall across UK
Thursday 8 January 2026 20:21 , Alastair LockhartSnow has continued to fall across parts of the UK including Wales and the south of England.
Pictures show the extent of the snowfall as temperatures remain freezing.
Over 25,000 properties without power in south-west England
Thursday 8 January 2026 19:26 , Georgia BellMore than 25,000 properties in south-west England are without power, according to the National Grid.
In a post on its website, the company said that at just after 7pm on Thursday, the number of properties without supply in the area was over 25,000.
Gusts of 99mph recorded on the Isles of Scilly
Thursday 8 January 2026 19:19 , Georgia BellThe Met Office has announced that gusts of 99mph have now been reached at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly.
This comes as Storm Goretti hits the UK, resulting in a rare red wind warning from The Met Office.
Emergency alerts sent to phone in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Thursday 8 January 2026 19:05 , Georgia BellEmergency alerts are being sent to approximately 500,000 people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The first was sent to people in the Isles of Scilly at around 15:00, while the second was sent to those in Cornwall at around 17:00.
The alert is programmed to make a "loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent", which lasts for about 10 seconds. The sound is accompanied by a message from the government about the red warning and how to stay safe.
The last time a weather warning triggered an alert like this in the past was in response to Storm Eowyn last year. Around 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received the alert.
Record-breaking winds of 98mph recorded
Thursday 8 January 2026 18:45 , Georgia BellHuge wind gusts of 98mph have been recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, according to the Met Office.
This marks a record for the Met Office site.
This comes after Storm Goretti hits the UK, resulting in a rare red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds.
Posting on X, The Met Office said: "A recent gust of 98mph has been recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, making it a new record for the site."
A recent gust of 98 mph has been recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, making it a new record for the site 🌬️ pic.twitter.com/rjRLj2iO0K
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 8, 2026
Snow will force schools to close across Midlands and Wales
Thursday 8 January 2026 18:41 , Georgia BellDozens of schools will close on Friday in areas where an amber weather warning for snow has been issued.
Several schools across the Midlands and Wales have announced they will be closing, after it was announced that an amber warning for snow would run from 8pm until 9am on Friday, which covers parts of Wales, the Midlands, and Yorkshire.
According to The Met Office, as a result of the storm, rain in these areas will turn to "heavy snow", which may result in some rural areas being cut off.
Around 10-15 cm of snow is expected across the warning area, which may rise to 30cm on higher terrain in Wales and the Peak District.
Health warnings issued for those with chronic conditions
Thursday 8 January 2026 17:23 , Georgia BellSeveral health charities have issued warnings to those living with long-term health conditions as Storm Goretti intensifies.
Asthma + Lung UK CEO Sarah Sleet has warned that freezing temperatures can worsen symptoms such as breathlessness and wheezing for those living with lung conditions. She has also warned of the continued risk of flu.
Alzheimer’s Society highlighted that cold weather can be challenging for people with dementia, as they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold.
Drivers told to be cautious of snowy conditions
Thursday 8 January 2026 16:48 , Georgia Bell
Drivers have been warned to avoid driving overnight or to consider bringing their journeys forward, so they can avoid the worst of the weather.
The RAC said that disruption is likely across many areas of Wales and central England.
Alice Simpson, a spokesperson for RAC breakdown, told the BBC: “These relatively rare amber weather warnings for snow must be heeded by drivers".
She encouraged drivers to only take on the journey if they are confident with slippery surfaces and ensure their vehicles can handle the conditions.
She advised motorists to ensure they are carrying an emergency breakdown kit if they decide to get on the road.
She added, "These aren’t conditions anyone wants to be caught out in."
Wet weather as Storm Goretti hits London
Thursday 8 January 2026 16:13 , Georgia BellThese photos show central London as Storm Goretti arrives in the UK.
Conditions around Bank and Moorgate are wet and windy, as Londoners seek shelter in train stations and under umbrellas.
What is a red weather warning? An explainer
Thursday 8 January 2026 16:02 , Georgia BellHow do yellow, amber, and red weather warnings from the Met Office differ?
Yellow warnings: The most common. They warn you that severe weather is possible and to consider planning for impacts to either travel, power, or property.
Amber warnings: Prepare you for travel disruption and highlight a potential risk to life and property
Red warnings: Rare and only issued a few times over recent years. They mean that the Met Office believes dangerous, possibly life-threatening weather is imminent, and you should immediately take action to protect yourself and others.
A red warning has been issued today for parts of south-west England as Storm Goretti approaches.
Dramatic pictures as Storm Goretti approaches the UK
Thursday 8 January 2026 15:52 , Georgia BellThese dramatic pictures show moody weather off the coast of northwestern France on Thursday.
Residents have been told that Storm Goretti may bring with it wind gusts that could reach 160 km/h.
Train services disrupted
Thursday 8 January 2026 15:28 , Georgia BellThe storm brings travel disruption in England, Scotland, and Wales across Thursday and Friday.
Passengers in Scotland have been warned that services will be cancelled due to heavy snow.
In England, all train services in Cornwall are suspended from 18:00.
Passengers hoping to travel on the Eurostar services have been warned that they will likely see delays and cancellations.
Both Eurostar and National Rail have advised passengers to check their journeys before travelling.
Red wind warning issued by Met Office
Thursday 8 January 2026 15:18 , Georgia BellA rare warning for red wind has been issued by the Met Office for south-west England.
This comes as Storm Goretti continues to travel towards the UK, and residents are told to prepare for "flying debris resulting in danger to life".
