LONDON (AP) — A significant winter storm, named Storm Goretti, has caused widespread disruptions across northern France and southern England, leaving thousands of homes and businesses without power. The storm, which swept in from the Atlantic, brought severe weather conditions including high winds, rain, and snow early Friday morning.
In the Isles of Scilly, wind gusts reached up to 99 mph (159 kph), leading local officials to report challenges such as blocked roads, unstable structures, and power outages. Over 57,000 people were left without electricity across southwestern England, the Midlands, and Wales, as per National Grid, the operator for the country's electricity transmission network.
As Storm Goretti progressed across the United Kingdom, it mixed with a cold mass of Arctic air, resulting in snow in northern regions and heavy rain in the south. In northern Scotland, the aftermath of a previous snowfall, which measured over half a meter (around 20 inches), compounded the troubles, causing more than 250 schools to remain closed on Friday for a fifth consecutive day.
The Met Office, Britain's national weather service, issued a rare red weather warning for southwestern England, its highest alert level, indicating potential life-threatening conditions. Travelers were advised to check rail services due to numerous disruptions reported across England, Scotland, and Wales. Birmingham Airport briefly closed due to snow but reopened with reduced operations.
In France, Storm Goretti also wreaked havoc, particularly in northwestern regions. While no major damage was recorded, approximately 320,000 homes were without power at midday, down from 380,000 earlier in the day, according to Enedis, the national power grid operator. Météo-France had previously warned residents to remain indoors due to anticipated high winds. A wind gust of up to 213 kph (132 mph) was noted in Gatteville-le-Phare, Normandy.
Train services were suspended across northwestern France, with delays expected to persist into Friday afternoon, although high-speed rail services continued to operate. Authorities reported that flight operations at Paris airports were minimally impacted. Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Europe faced a cold spell, with temperatures dropping to double-digit negatives at night in some areas.
Heavy snowfall also caused significant disruptions in the Czech Republic, particularly affecting Prague. Delays and cancellations at Prague Vaclav Havel Airport were reported, alongside blockages on the major D5 highway leading to Germany. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn in Germany halted long-distance services in the north due to the winter weather, stranding thousands of passengers, while many roads and rail connections faced similar weather-related effects.
Tragic incidents occurred in Germany, resulting in the deaths of two individuals in separate car accidents attributed to the harsh winter conditions. On the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony, ferry services were largely suspended as strong easterly winds made several islands inaccessible by boat.
In the German Bundesliga, Leipzig's matchup against Hamburg’s St. Pauli was canceled due to heavy snowfall, raising concerns about other scheduled games as teams faced challenges clearing snow from stadium roofs.
In summary, Storm Goretti has produced a cascade of weather-related difficulties across parts of Europe, significantly impacting travel, power supply, and infrastructure as the winter weather continues to take its toll.
