Storm Goretti is set to batter much of Europe with gusts up to 160 km/h (100 mph), heavy rain and snow beginning Thursday. The UK has rare red wind warnings for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and amber snow alerts for parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England. France and Germany have closed schools and readied emergency measures, while temperatures could fall to around -20C in some areas. Authorities warn of widespread travel disruption and urge people to follow safety advice.
Storm Goretti Set To Slam Europe: 100 mph Winds, Heavy Snow And Major Travel Disruption
Britain's Met Office has issued a 'rare' red wind warning (Lou BENOIST)(Lou BENOIST/AFP/AFP)
Storm Goretti is forecast to sweep across large parts of western and northern Europe from Thursday, bringing violent gusts, heavy rain, widespread snow and a sharp drop in temperatures.
UK: Rare Red Wind Warning And Snow Risk
Britain's Met Office issued a rare red wind warning for the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall between 1600 GMT and 2300 GMT — its highest alert level. Exceptionally strong winds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph) are expected, and very large waves could create dangerous coastal conditions. An amber snow warning covers parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, with accumulations of up to 30 cm (11 in) possible in some areas. National Rail has warned of significant disruption to train services over the next two days and urged people to avoid travel unless essential. As of Thursday no widespread flight cancellations from London had been reported.
France: Manche Hit Hard, Schools Closed
Forecasters predicted gusts of up to 160 km/h in the Manche department in northern France. Local authorities closed schools in Manche for Friday and issued alerts across around 30 northwestern departments. The Manche prefecture advised residents to take shelter, avoid driving and prepare emergency lighting and a supply of drinking water.
Germany: Snow, Icy Conditions And Severe Cold
The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of heavy snow and strong winds in northern Germany, with up to 15 cm (6 in) of snowfall expected in some areas and a risk of icy conditions further south. Temperatures could plunge to around -20C in pockets of the country this weekend, DWD meteorologist Andreas Walter said. Several local authorities — including Hamburg and Bremen — announced school closures. Deutsche Bahn warned of major delays and has mobilised more than 14,000 staff to clear snow from tracks and platforms.
Duration And Context
DWD expects the storm to last through Saturday, with snowfall easing by Monday. Walter noted that while milder winters have become more common due to long-term warming linked to climate change, cold and snowy episodes can still occur — though they are likely to become rarer over time.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute reported that only the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard recorded temperatures above freezing on Thursday.
Safety Advice: Follow local warnings, avoid non-essential travel, secure outdoor items and prepare emergency supplies including lighting and drinking water.
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