A biting cold has gripped the nation, unleashing a cascade of disruption as Storm Goretti swept across the UK. Homes have been battered, power lines downed, and travel thrown into chaos by a potent mix of snow, ice, and freezing fog.
The most dramatic scenes unfolded in Truro, Cornwall, where two large trees succumbed to the relentless winds, crashing onto a house. Elsewhere, blizzard-like conditions descended upon the Midlands, transforming familiar landscapes into treacherous, white expanses.
National Rail is bracing for widespread disruption throughout the weekend, with yellow warnings for snow and ice remaining in effect until Sunday. A separate ice warning blankets much of England and Wales, fueled by partially thawed snow refreezing under the cover of darkness and further wintry showers.
The Met Office warns of a widespread ice risk, particularly overnight as temperatures plummet below freezing. Wales and southwest England are facing continued showers, potentially adding to the hazardous conditions, while freezing fog patches pose an additional threat to visibility and safety.
The impact has been felt acutely in the South West, where approximately 28,000 properties were left without power early Saturday morning. The West and East Midlands also experienced outages, affecting nearly 1,700 and 150 homes respectively, though power has been fully restored in Wales.
Record snowfall has accumulated in mountainous regions. Lake Vyrnwy in Powys recorded a staggering 15cm, while Scotland’s Altnaharra saw an incredible 27cm of snowfall. Heavy rainfall has also contributed to the challenges, with Cornwall’s Colliford Dam receiving 61.8mm of precipitation.
Northern Ireland is also under a yellow warning for snow and ice, anticipating icy patches and localized hill snow until Saturday morning. A broader warning encompassing Scotland, the Midlands, and parts of northern England will remain in place until Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters predict an additional 2-5cm of snow within the extended warning area, with the potential for 10-20cm at elevations above 200 metres. The weather remains “unsettled and cold,” according to meteorologists, with coastal areas bracing for strong, potentially severe gales.
While Saturday will bring mostly dry conditions with lingering frost, Sunday will see a shift as rain moves eastward, falling as snow across the north Midlands and higher ground. Temperatures are expected to rise through the day, gradually limiting snowfall to the highest elevations.
Looking ahead, the unsettled pattern is expected to continue into next week, with persistent rain in northern and western areas and strong winds. However, a welcome change is on the horizon, as temperatures are forecast to return to near-normal values, offering a respite from the recent deep freeze.
