A winter storm named Goretti has arrived in the UK, covering the country in snow and ice and prompting widespread warnings. The Met Office has issued yellow and amber alerts due to hazardous road conditions and a mix of snow, ice, and rain with temperatures plummeting to -12C. Goretti, named by Meteo France, is set to bring severe weather primarily to the southwest and is expected to intensify rapidly over Thursday and Friday.
Despite the disruptions, the storm has created picturesque snowy landscapes, with Britons enjoying the wintry scenes. The Met Office advises caution in warned areas as Goretti will bring very strong winds, especially in southwest England, with gusts reaching 70-80mph and possibly up to 100mph. Travel disruptions are anticipated, including road and rail delays and potential isolation due to heavy snow.
Power outages may occur, affecting various services, including mobile phone coverage, before the snow transitions to rain and sleet by the weekend. Some regions may see up to 30cm of snow accumulation. The wintry conditions, reminiscent of Christmas, have caused significant disruptions in parts of the country, burying towns and vast rural areas under snow.
Authorities caution that travel could be affected by the snow, yet some individuals have risked ice skating on frozen lakes despite safety warnings. The snowy weather is forecasted to persist throughout the week.