A fresh weather alert has been issued for snow and ice by the Met Office, covering 40 regions. The new yellow warning encompasses a large part of Scotland and northern England, effective from 8 pm until 12 pm the following day. This alert adds to other warnings across the country for snow, ice, wind, and rain as Storm Goretti approaches with gusts up to 100mph.
In addition to the yellow alerts, there is an amber warning for snow in central areas of England and Wales, in effect from 8 pm tonight until 9 am the next day. The latest warning predicts widespread ice formation as temperatures drop overnight, with wintry showers expected in northern England and eastern Scotland, possibly leading to additional snow accumulation.
The current warning attributes the severe weather conditions to a “weather bomb” driving heavy snowfall and gale-force winds from Storm Goretti. This phenomenon, also known as explosive cyclogenesis, occurs when the central pressure in a low-pressure system rapidly decreases. Storm Goretti is estimated to experience a pressure drop of 36 millibars within a 24-hour period, as reported by the BBC.
The Met Office warns that weather bombs can bring strong winds capable of causing damage, such as toppling trees and structural destruction. Storm Goretti, labeled by Meteo France, is described as a “multi-hazard event,” with the potential for up to 30cm of snow in certain areas of the UK.
The most intense gusts are anticipated in the South West, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where an amber warning is in place from 4 pm to 11 pm today. Additionally, a yellow wind warning has been issued for the entire south coast, predicting gusts of up to 60mph.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong emphasized the multi-hazard nature of Storm Goretti, with significant snow impacts expected in parts of Wales and the Midlands, and very strong winds in the far southwest. The storm is likely to bring substantial snowfall, particularly in Wales and the Midlands, with accumulations ranging from 10-15 cm and up to 20-30 cm in higher elevation areas.
An Amber warning has been issued for areas at highest risk of disruption on Thursday night into Friday morning. Residents in warning zones are advised to stay informed about the forecast and heed messages from local authorities.
Regions affected by the weather warning include Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, and Yorkshire & Humber.
