Storm Goretti has battered large parts of the UK overnight, bringing record-breaking winds, heavy snow and power cuts that have left tens of thousands of households without electricity.
Train passengers are being told not to travel, airports have faced runway closures, and key roads have been shut as emergency crews race to deal with the fallout.
With amber and yellow weather warnings still active this morning, dangerous travel conditions are expected to continue into the day.
What is Storm Goretti, and how severe is it?
Storm Goretti is a powerful winter storm that swept into the UK yesterday, combining strong winds, heavy rain and widespread snowfall.
According to the Met Office, wind speeds reached 99mph at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly, a new record for that site.
The storm has affected England, Wales, parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with impacts varying by region.
Met Office spokesperson: “Storm Goretti has brought a mix of damaging winds, heavy rain and significant snowfall, leading to dangerous conditions and disruption across many parts of the UK.”
How many homes are without power after Storm Goretti?
At the height of the storm, around 71,500 homes across England and Wales lost electricity, based on figures from the National Grid outage map overnight.
Engineers are working to reconnect supplies, but officials warn that rural and hard-to-reach areas may face longer delays, particularly where snow has blocked roads or brought down power lines.
Areas most affected by power cuts:
- Parts of the Midlands
- South West England
- Rural areas of Wales
- Coastal communities are exposed to high winds
Why are train passengers being told not to travel?
Rail services across large parts of the country are severely disrupted, with Network Rail confirming that services are “extremely limited” in several regions.
Key routes affected include:
- Stafford – Birmingham – Rugby
- Birmingham – Marylebone
- Birmingham – Derby
- Birmingham – Bromsgrove and South West routes
Heavy snow, fallen trees and overhead line damage have all contributed to the disruption. Weather warnings are expected to remain in place until at least midday, delaying recovery efforts.
Network Rail update: “Our teams are concentrating on safely reopening routes, but passengers should expect ongoing disruption this morning.”
Which roads and motorways are closed?
Road users are also facing major problems. A section of the M1 motorway is closed between Junction 28 (Mansfield) and Junction 29 (Chesterfield) following a lorry crash in snowy conditions.
3 lanes (of 4) closed #M1 north between J28 #Mansfield and J29 #Chesterfield following a collision involving a lorry
Recovery is underway & winter fleet vehicles en route to clear snow which has settled in the closed lanes
Delays of up to 30 mins & approx. 4 miles congestion pic.twitter.com/NRB1QHlRUx
— National Highways: East Midlands (@HighwaysEMIDS) January 9, 2026
- Three out of four lanes are shut
- Around four miles of congestion reported
- National Highways teams are clearing snow and debris
Drivers are being urged to avoid unnecessary journeys and check conditions before setting off.
Are airports operating normally today?
Air travel has also been hit hard by Storm Goretti.
- East Midlands Airport closed its runway overnight due to heavy snowfall but has since reopened, warning of possible delays throughout the day.
- Birmingham Airport confirmed earlier this morning that runway operations remain suspended while snow clearance and safety checks continue.
Passengers are advised to check directly with airlines before travelling.
What weather warnings are still in place across the UK?
The Met Office continues to warn of dangerous conditions in many areas.
Current warnings include:
- Amber snow warning: Midlands, Wales, South West England and parts of Yorkshire – risk of communities being cut off and power cuts
- Yellow wind warning: London, South East, South West and Wales – risk of flying debris and travel disruption
- Yellow rain warnings: Wales, Lincolnshire, East England and Yorkshire – flooding possible
- Yellow snow and ice warnings: Large parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Snowfall of up to 30cm is possible in parts of the Midlands, according to field reports.
How is Storm Goretti affecting the Channel Islands?
Storm Goretti has also caused serious disruption beyond mainland Britain.
- A major incident was declared in Jersey
- Residents were evacuated in Guernsey
- Roads were blocked and debris scattered across both islands
Emergency services remain on high alert as clean-up operations continue.
