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Storm Goretti Hammers UK with Record 99mph Blast-The United Kingdom is facing a national emergency as Storm Goretti, described by meteorologists as a "multi-hazard weather bomb," officially made landfall with devastating force. A rare Red "Danger to Life" warning was triggered as wind speeds reached a staggering 99mph at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly—a record-breaking figure for the site. The storm's rapid intensification has turned the southern coast into a battleground of flying debris and falling trees, while the northern edge has dumped a "snow bomb" across the heart of the country, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
Friday School Closures Confirmed Across Hardest Hit Areas-Education has been severely disrupted with hundreds of schools confirming they will remain closed today, Friday, January 9, 2026. In Shropshire alone, over 60 schools have shut their gates, while widespread closures are reported throughout Warwickshire, Powys, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Local authorities in the West Midlands and Wales are urging parents to check dedicated council "Snow Map" websites, as many institutions have been forced to cancel transport due to impassable roads and freezing temperatures.
Transport Paralysis as Major Airports and Bridges Shut-The UK’s transport network has effectively buckled under the weight of the storm. Birmingham Airport was forced to suspend all runway operations late Thursday due to heavy snow accumulation, leading to a wave of cancellations on Friday morning. In the South, the Tamar Bridge, the vital artery connecting Devon and Cornwall, was closed to all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists after wind gusts exceeded the 75mph safety threshold. Further north, iconic routes including the A57 Snake Pass and the A628 Woodhead Pass are blocked by deep drifts, while National Rail has suspended services across Cornwall and parts of the Midlands.
70,000 Homes Without Power and Heroic Rescues-As of 12:21 PM, the National Grid reports that over 70,000 homes are currently without electricity, with the South West and West Midlands bearing the brunt of the outages. Emergency services and mountain rescue teams have been working tirelessly in sub-zero conditions, with over 150 people rescued from stranded vehicles so far. Many of these rescues took place on high-altitude routes where drivers became trapped in snow reaching depths of 30cm within just a few hours.
A 20-Year Weather Event and the £500m Damage Bill-Forecasters state that the UK has not seen a combined wind and snow event of this magnitude in at least 20 years, drawing comparisons to the severe winters of 2010 and 1990. While the storm is still active, insurance analysts have already begun calculating the fallout, estimating that the total damage cost to the UK economy and infrastructure could soar past £500 million. This includes property damage from 99mph gusts and the massive loss of business caused by the total transport shutdown.
The Critical Friday Forecast and Vital Home Advice-The forecast for the remainder of Friday indicates that while the "eye" of Storm Goretti is moving toward the North Sea, a trailing amber warning for snow remains in place for the East Midlands and parts of Northern England. For those forced to evacuate or leave their homes, experts have issued a final warning: leave your heating on at a minimum of 13°C. While many believe this is only to prevent frozen pipes, the primary reason is to prevent "Flash Mould." In these extreme conditions, a cold house allows moisture to rapidly condense on walls, potentially causing thousands of pounds in structural damp damage in just 48 hours.
