Western Europe faced severe weather disruptions on Friday as Storm Goretti, a powerful Atlantic weather system, battered coastal regions of northern France and southern England with destructive winds, heavy precipitation, and significant infrastructure damage.
The meteorological event originated as a deep low-pressure system that first struck the Isles of Scilly off England’s southwestern coast, where wind velocities reached unprecedented speeds of 99 mph (159 kph). The extreme conditions resulted in blocked transportation routes, structurally compromised buildings, and extensive power failures that subsequently affected water supply systems in multiple communities.
According to National Grid, Britain’s primary electricity transmission operator, over 57,000 households and commercial establishments experienced power interruptions across southwestern England, the Midlands, and Wales. The situation intensified as the advancing storm front interacted with an established Arctic air mass, generating substantial snowfall across northern territories and torrential rainfall in southern regions.
Northern Scotland endured particularly severe conditions, with accumulated snow depths exceeding half a meter (20 inches) from earlier winter events. Municipal authorities deployed snowplows continuously to maintain road accessibility, while educational institutions remained shuttered—over 250 schools across Scotland canceled classes, with some facilities closing for five consecutive days.
Transportation networks suffered extensive disruptions throughout the United Kingdom. National Rail issued comprehensive travel advisories warning of service interruptions across England, Scotland, and Wales. Birmingham Airport implemented temporary closures due to hazardous conditions, later resuming operations with significantly reduced runway capacity.
The Met Office, Britain’s national meteorological service, had preemptively declared its highest-level red weather warning for southwestern England—an exceptional measure reserved for potentially life-threatening conditions.
Simultaneously, northwestern France experienced comparable devastation from the storm’s onslaught. French power grid operator Enedis reported approximately 320,000 households without electricity by midday Friday, notably concentrated in Normandy where wind gusts reached extraordinary velocities of 213 kph (132 mph) at Gatteville-le-Phare.
Météo-France, the national weather service, had issued severe weather alerts recommending residents remain indoors. Regional rail services throughout northwestern France were suspended indefinitely, while high-speed rail connections and Paris airport operations maintained minimal service levels despite the challenging conditions.