Storm Goretti cuts power and halts transport across much of UK

Storm Goretti continued to batter large parts of the UK on Friday, knocking out power supplies to around 57,000 households and triggering widespread disruption to transport networks. The worst impact was reported in southwest England, particularly Cornwall, where more than 43,000 properties lost electricity, alongside outages in the West Midlands, according to National Grid.Power outages and repair efforts

Engineers worked through the night to restore electricity, but progress was slowed by severe weather, including strong winds and snow.

Authorities warned that some areas could face prolonged outages as conditions remained dangerous for repair crews.

Flights and airports disrupted

Air travel was heavily affected, with British Airways canceling over 50 flights at London’s Heathrow Airport, largely on short-haul routes. Several regional airports also experienced delays and temporary runway closures as snowfall and high winds reduced operational safety.

Rail services largely suspended

Rail disruption spread across England and Wales, prompting Network Rail to advise passengers in multiple regions not to travel. Services in the Midlands and southwest England were extremely limited, while some routes were fully suspended during safety inspections. West Midlands Railway halted all operations, and London Northwestern Railway reduced or suspended key services linking Birmingham with Liverpool and London.

Road closures and safety warnings

Snow-related accidents forced the closure of sections of major motorways, including parts of the M1, leading to long traffic delays. The Met Office reported wind gusts reaching 99 mph in the Isles of Scilly, along with heavy snowfall across central England and Wales. Numerous schools, especially in Scotland, were closed as hazardous travel conditions persisted.

Fresh weather alerts issued

The Met Office later issued a yellow warning for snow and ice covering much of Scotland, northern England, the West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber from early Sunday. The agency cautioned that further travel delays, power cuts and injuries from slips and falls remain possible as Storm Goretti continues to affect the country.