The United Kingdom is braced for a renewed bout of severe winter weather, with the imminent arrival of Storm Goretti threatening to bring further heavy snow and disruptive winds to large parts of England and Wales on Thursday.
Widespread Disruption and Extended Warnings
This fresh onslaught follows days of travel chaos and widespread school closures that have affected the country from Oxford to Orkney. Although Tuesday night was forecast to be less frigid than Monday—which saw temperatures plummet to minus 12.5C in Norfolk, marking the coldest night of the winter so far—the disruption is far from over.
The Met Office has extended a yellow warning for ice across most of England, Wales, and southern Scotland until 10am on Wednesday. A separate yellow warning for snow and ice remains for northern Scotland until midnight, where up to 20cm of fresh snow is anticipated in some areas, accompanied by strong winds that will cause significant drifting.
School Closures and a 'Major Incident' in Scotland
The impact on education has been severe. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 schools were closed across the UK. In Scotland's north-east, the situation is particularly critical. Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council have announced all schools in their areas will remain shut on Wednesday.
Aberdeenshire has declared a major incident, warning there is a "good chance" some rural communities could be cut off and that power cuts may occur. Local Conservative MP Harriet Cross praised over 100 "heroic" farmers and contractors who have been rescuing stranded drivers, clearing roads, and transporting essential supplies in blizzard conditions.
Storm Goretti's Path and Further Impacts
Named by Météo-France, Storm Goretti is set to sweep across the south of the UK from Thursday evening into Friday. The Met Office has issued further yellow warnings for snow for large parts of England and Wales from 6pm Thursday until midday Friday, as a deep area of low pressure brings a mix of rain, snow, and strong winds.
A separate yellow warning for strong winds has been issued for Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly from 3pm Thursday until just before midnight. The ripple effects of the freezing weather have also been felt in sports, with seven midweek football matches in Scotland cancelled on Tuesday.
Police Scotland has urged people in the north and north-east to follow travel advice, noting the impact of the heavy snowfall is likely to be felt for several more days. As the nation prepares for Storm Goretti, the advice remains to stay informed on the latest warnings and avoid unnecessary journeys.
