Rare red 'danger to life' warning issued as Storm Goretti approaches Britain, France

LONDON -- As Storm Goretti is forming a "weather bomb" over the Atlantic, the British Met Office on Thursday upgraded its wind warnings for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to the rare red alert.

The storm, set to strike Britain and France shortly, could be "stronger than other storms in recent memory," the Met Office warned, describing it as a "multi-hazard" event posing "danger to life."

Gusts could reach 100 miles per hour, with as much as 30 cm of snow possible in parts of Britain, it said.

Winds of 99 miles per hour were recorded at St Mary's airport on the Isles of Scilly, which is a new record for the site, the forecaster said.

Even stronger winds from Storm Goretti, named by the French weather authority Meteo-France, are expected in the Channel Islands and northern France.

The red alert was issued for Cornwall, south-west England, and the Isles of Scilly on Thursday afternoon.

Residents have been warned of life-threatening flying debris, and closed roads and railways are likely to cause travel chaos. Large waves will also pose a threat to seaside homes.

Emergency alerts have been sent to around half a million people in the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, where a rare red weather warning is in place.

Numerous amber and yellow warnings for wind, snow and rain have also been issued across Britain.

Amber cold health alerts have been put in place to all regions of England by the UK Health Security Agency until Jan 11, meaning severe impacts can be expected across health and social care services.

More than 44,000 properties are currently without power in the south-west of England, according to the National Grid website. In Wales, there are more than 2,500 without supply and more than 6,000 in the West Midlands.

National Highways has issued its own amber severe weather alert for snow in the West and East Midlands regions of England, warning of "particularly difficult driving conditions" in Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham.

Rail passengers have been advised to check journeys before travelling, with services affected across England, Scotland and Wales.

Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney airports will be temporarily closed in the evening as the islands brace for Storm Goretti.

Dozens of schools closed early as the storm approached.

"This multi-hazard event will bring significant disruption to many," said Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong. "This is a complex spell of severe weather, and I'd advise people in the warning areas to keep up to date with the forecast and messages from local authorities."

The first named storm of 2026, Goretti, has been described by meteorologists as a "weather bomb." The Met Office says a weather bomb is created when a rapid acceleration of air caused by the jet stream high up in the atmosphere removes air from the storm column, reducing its weight, and causing pressure to fall at sea level.