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The United Kingdom is preparing for significant snowfall and powerful winds as Storm Goretti sweeps across the country on Thursday. The Met Office has issued an amber alert for snow and strong gusts in various parts of England and Wales, along with multiple yellow weather warnings covering extensive areas of the UK. The AA has advised motorists to exercise “extreme care” amid the threat of black ice, following an incident in Reading where nine children were hurt in a collision involving a school coach and a bus.
Known for intense pressure drops, Storm Goretti is expected to experience “explosive cyclogenesis”—sometimes called a “weather bomb”—as it develops. This phenomenon involves the central pressure falling by at least 1 millibar per hour over a 24-hour period, resulting in intense wind gusts in a short period. The storm’s impact extends beyond the UK; severe snow and icy conditions have disrupted travel across Europe, leaving thousands stranded at airports in Paris and Amsterdam. Tragically, weather-related incidents this week have claimed at least six lives across Europe, including five deaths in France and one in Bosnia.
Drivers have been cautioned to rethink their travel plans with such hazardous conditions looming. Shaun Jones, an expert at the AA, recommended delaying journeys or working from home when possible, highlighting that “wintry conditions could reduce visibility in seconds,” making familiar roads suddenly perilous. Meanwhile, personal accounts reveal the storm’s severity; Gerard Cairney recounted driving cautiously on the A887 near Edinburgh when a falling tree struck his car’s bonnet, fortunately causing only minor damage. In the Yorkshire Dales National Park, experienced climber Mick Ellerton was seen scaling a frozen waterfall—a rare opportunity brought about by the recent plunge in temperatures.
Storm Goretti’s warnings affect numerous parts of the UK, with amber alerts for heavy snow set from Thursday evening to Friday morning across the Midlands, Wales, Southwest England, and Yorkshire & Humber. Additionally, strong wind warnings were issued for parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Yellow warnings for snow, ice, and rain are widespread, encompassing areas such as Scotland, Devon, Somerset, and several regions across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. As the storm moves in, winds in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly could gust up to 90mph, posing risks of falling debris and threats to safety. Snow accumulation is expected to be heaviest in mid and east Wales, the Midlands, and the southern Pennines, where totals may reach 20-30cm, especially on elevated terrain.
Local authorities in the West Midlands are bracing for potentially the most severe snowfall in a decade. Rain may lead to localized flooding in parts of southwest Wales and eastern England, but these conditions should ease by Friday morning. However, snow remaining on the ground is likely to cause disruption during the morning commute. The current cold snap has brought temperatures significantly below the January average by 4 to 10 degrees Celsius. The adverse weather has led to hundreds of school closures and severe disruptions to rail services. Many national rail operators, including Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, CrossCountry, and East Midlands Service, have announced reduced schedules, cancellations, or suspensions to services, urging passengers to check before travelling.
In response to the ongoing cold, the UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold weather alerts across England, effective until Sunday. The government’s cold weather payment scheme is active in at least 697 postcodes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, meaning over one million households will receive £25 automatically if local temperatures remain at or below freezing for seven consecutive days. Payments are processed within 14 days. It should be noted that Scotland has a separate winter heating payment system to assist residents during cold conditions
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