The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for parts of south-west England as Storm Goretti brings “dangerous, stormy winds of up to 100mph.” Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are under the highest-level alert from 4pm to 11pm, with authorities warning of a risk to life and property. The storm is expected to cause flying debris, roof damage, and large waves along coastal roads and seafronts.
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Power outages and transport disruptions are likely as fallen trees and downed power lines block roads. Emergency alerts have been sent to around half a million mobile phones in the affected areas, warning residents to take precautions. Almost 100 schools in Cornwall have closed, and National Rail has suspended all train services in the region from 6pm Thursday until Friday morning.
⚠️ Storm Goretti is causing major disruption as more than 43,000 homes in the South West were without power at 6am, with thousands more affected across the Midlands and Wales.
🚅✈️ Schools are closed, flights and trains disrupted.#StormGoretti #UKWeather #PowerCuts… pic.twitter.com/vcTJjvoWlJ
— Radio News Hub (@radionewshub) January 9, 2026
The Cabinet Office confirmed two emergency alerts: one for the Isles of Scilly at 3pm and another for Cornwall at 5pm. Residents have been advised to avoid travel during the storm’s peak, which is expected to last two to three hours, though strong winds will continue under a wider yellow warning into Friday. Dangerous coastal conditions, including very large waves, are also forecast.
Storm Goretti has been described as a “weather bomb” due to explosive cyclogenesis, when a storm’s central pressure drops by 24 millibars in 24 hours. This rapid intensification is driven by a powerful jet stream drawing air into the storm column, amplifying its strength. Red warnings are only issued in exceptional circumstances, with the last in south-west England during Storm Darragh in December 2024.
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The storm is expected to bring wintry weather across much of the UK, with amber and yellow warnings in place elsewhere. Up to 30cm of snow could fall in the Midlands, creating what forecasters are calling a belated white Christmas. Residents have been urged to stay indoors and follow updates from local authorities.