The Met Office issued this updated Amber warning for snow on Thursday 8 January.
The UK’s cold weather continues with a deep area of low pressure bringing further snow, strong winds and heavy rain, with Amber warnings issued, as well as wider Yellow warnings.
The strongest winds associated with this system are expected to affect the Channel Islands and northern France, hence it has been named Storm Goretti by Météo-France. A period of strong winds is also expected to affect southern England and Wales. This especially so towards the southwest of England where an Amber warning has been issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
It is also expected to bring a spell of snow, with the largest snowfalls most likely to be across Wales and parts of the Midlands, where a further Amber warning has been issued. Rain will be an additional hazard, particularly for parts of Wales and eastern England as Goretti moves through.
The warning is in force from 8 pm on Thursday 8 January until 9 am on friday 9 January.
The warning states:
Rain associated with Storm Goretti will turn readily to heavy snow on Thursday evening, initially on hills and then to lower levels overnight, before easing through the course of Friday morning.
Accumulations of 10-15 cm are likely fairly widely, with the potential for 20-30 cm in some locations, mainly on hills above 200 m elevation, more especially in Wales and/or the Peak District.
Snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, turning more to rain or sleet at times at low levels, but disruption is likely to persist into Friday after snow stops falling.
There is some uncertainty over the exact track of Storm Goretti, which will influence the locations most likely to see disruptive snow, and it is possible this warning may be updated.’
The low pressure system has been named by Meteo France, as the strongest winds associated with Storm Goretti are most likely over northern France.’
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “Storm Goretti will be a multi-hazard event, with the most significant impacts from snow 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.”
A period of strong winds is also likely across southwestern areas on Thursday afternoon and evening, with gusts of 50-60 mph possible fairly widely, and 60-70 mph along exposed hills and coasts. There is the chance of a spell of especially strong winds across parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where a separate Amber warning has been issued for 80-90 mph gusts in exposed places.
