Storm Goretti sparks ‘hazard to life’ warnings with 20cm of snow and harmful winds
The Met Office has issued snow and wind warnings for Thursday and Friday as Storm Goretti hits the UK, with up to 20cm of snow expected and ‘danger to life’ alerts for strong winds
Fresh weather warnings have been issued as Britain braces for its first named storm of the year. The Met Office has issued new snow and wind alerts for Thursday and Friday as Storm Goretti prepares to hit our shores.
Residents have been urged to get ready for severe conditions by stocking up on essential supplies, with meteorologists issuing a ‘danger to life’ warning regarding the incoming winds.
“People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items,” the national weather service advises.
A vast area covering England and Wales is now under a snow warning, effective from 6pm Thursday (January 8) through to midday Friday, reports the Mirror.
The alert warns: “Storm Goretti likely to bring heavy snow leading to disruption and difficult travelling conditions.”
Residents should brace for travel chaos across roads, railways and airports, with conditions potentially trapping vehicles.
Remote rural areas may find themselves completely isolated whilst power outages are likely, potentially disrupting services including mobile phone networks.
Meteo France has officially designated the weather system as Storm Goretti.
The snow warning adds: “A deep area of low pressure will move across the south of the UK during Thursday and into Friday bringing a mixture of rain, snow and strong winds.
“A spell of heavy snow is likely to develop over higher ground in south Wales later on Thursday before rain turns to snow more widely over parts of England and Wales during Thursday night. In some areas, 5-10 cm of snow may settle with the potential for up to 20 cm in some locations, especially over higher ground. Strong winds may lead to some drifting of snow. Rain and snow will then clear eastwards during Friday.
“This system has been named by Meteo France as the strongest winds associated with Storm Goretti are most likely over northern France.”
A yellow wind warning, including a danger to life alert, has also been issued for the south west of England which runs from 3pm on Thursday until the end of the day. “Strong winds associated with Storm Goretti may lead to some disruption on Thursday,” warns the Met Office.
There’s a risk of damage to buildings and travel disruption due to the wind, while people have also been advised to be cautious of flying debris and large waves at beaches.
The Met Office cautions: “There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties. There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris.”
Hundreds of schools were compelled to shut across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday morning, while National Rail alerted passengers to potential service cancellations and disruptions to train services.
The Met Office has issued an amber snow warning for large swathes of north-east and northern Scotland, in effect from 11am to 7pm on Tuesday. Forecasters are predicting widespread snowfall of 5-10cm, with some areas potentially seeing up to 15cm.
Yellow snow warning for England and Wales on Thursday
Regions and local authorities affected:
East Midlands
- Derby
- Derbyshire
- Leicester
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
- Rutland
East of England
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Peterborough
London & South East England
- Buckinghamshire
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- West Berkshire
North West England
- Cheshire East
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Wrexham
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Telford and Wrekin
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
Yorkshire & Humber
- South Yorkshire
Wind warning for south-west England on Thursday
Regions and local authorities affected:
South West England
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Isles of Scilly
- Plymouth
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