Storm Goretti: Where and when will it hit the UK?

Storm Goretti, the UK’s first storm of 2026, is set to land on Thursday, with disruption expected widely across England and Wales.

Described by the Met Office as a “multi-hazard event”, the storm will bring with it a combination of heavy rain, extremely strong winds, and snow.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong said the most significant impacts from snow will be seen “in parts of Wales and the Midlands, though rain and strong winds also have the potential to bring disruption to many”.

“Goretti will bring snow on its northern edge, this most likely over Wales and the Midlands. Here, accumulations of 5-10 cm are likely widely, with 15-25 cm in some places, especially hills, and perhaps up to 30 cm very locally.

“An amber warning has been issued where the greatest risk of disruption is likely on Thursday night into Friday morning, though updates may be required as confidence increases in the exact track of Storm Goretti.”

ITV News explains which areas of the UK Storm Goretti will hit and when its effects will be felt the most.

When and where will be hit?

Wednesday

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place all of Wednesday for parts of Northern Scotland, with conditions spreading along the east coast as the day progresses.

5-10 cm of snow is expected to fall fairly widely across areas 100 m above ground level. A further 20 cm could be seen in places with higher elevation.

Lower elevation areas, as well as coastal areas, Orkney and Harris, should see lower snowfall, though icy conditions are still expected.

Yellow warnings are in place on Wednesday across Scotland. Credit: Met Office

The yellow weather warning expands to the whole of Scotland from 10 pm on Wednesday night through to 12 pm the next day.

Wintry showers across Orkney and northeast Scotland will slowly clear away to the east, whilst a new band of mainly light rain, sleet and snow will arrive from the west.

Western Scotland and parts of northern England could also see 2-5 cm of fresh snow on higher patches of ground.

Both yellow and amber warnings are in place across Thursday and Friday as Storm Goretti moves in. Credit: Met Office

Thursday into Friday

Northern Ireland

A yellow warning is in place over Northern Ireland between midnight and 10 am, urging the public to be wary of ice as temperatures fall, and freezing rainfall.

A few showers will also persist across counties Antrim, Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh, adding to the ice risk in these areas with rain falling on frozen ground.

Wales, Oxford, Nottingham, Peak District

Between 5 pm on Thursday and 12 pm the next day, a yellow warning for snow is in place covering Wales, Oxford, Nottingham and up to the Peak District.

Snow initially will begin to accumulate across hills in Wales and then increasingly to lower levels overnight.

Whilst not all areas may see accumulating snow, accumulations of 5-10 cm are likely quite widely, with scope for 15-25 cm in places, especially on some hills above 200 metres elevation.

There is a chance of 30 cm accumulating over high ground in Wales and/or the Peak District.

Between 8 pm on Thursday and 9 am on Friday, an amber warning is in place for much of the same area, with heavy snow expected in the north of Wales, Worcester, Leicster and north towards Nottingham.

Cornwall

A yellow warning is also in place over much of Cornwall, lasting from 3 pm Thursday through to 6 am Friday, with the strongest spell of winds during Thursday evening, with peak gusts of 50-60 mph likely fairly widely, and 60-70 mph along exposed coasts and hills.

Depending on the exact track of Storm Goretti, there is a chance that the Isles of Scilly and south and west Cornwall could experience a short period of exceptionally strong northwesterly winds, with gusts potentially of 80-90 mph and an amber warning covering these areas from Truro west.

How long will the cold weather last?

The UK Health Security Agency expects the cold snap to last until the weekend and has issued an amber cold health alert until Sunday, January 11.

Their advice to the public is to keep bedroom windows closed at night, keep your home heated to 18C minimum, and wear thin layers of clothing to trap in warm air.

Advertisement

The UK Government is offering £25 payments to those on certain benefits living in areas where the temperature is recorded as 0C or lower for seven consecutive days.

For the latest warnings, visit the Met Office website.

Both the Met Office and the RAC warn of drivers of icy conditions as rainfall freezes and snow falls in large parts of the UK. Credit: iStock

What disruption is expected?

Both train and bus routes are expected to be affected by Storm Goretti, with the Met Office highlighting the potential disruption to public transport.

Rain is likely to be another disruptive factor for many in the south of England, particularly on Thursday night and into Friday morning.

RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “In the areas worst affected by Storm Goretti, drivers need to consider if it’s safe to get behind the wheel. As temperatures plummet, breakdowns rise, especially as older, less reliable batteries tend to fail more often in cold conditions.”

A frozen canal in Paddington, London as temperatures fell earlier in the week. Credit: PA

Why can predicting the exact path of a storm be difficult?

As Storm Goretti moves closer, the Met Office’s predictions of exactly where it will make landfall will get more accurate.

Accuracy also improves as the low-pressure centre develops.

Whilst meteorologists are confident the areas for which weather warnings have been issued are accurate, that is not to say locations won’t change as the day progresses.

Small changes in trajectory early on in a storm’s progress can equal big differences in final destination, making exact locations harder to state with confidence.