Dozens of schools are set to shut down tomorrow due to heavy snow expected to arrive overnight. Schools in the Midlands and Wales have announced closures for Friday following an amber snow warning from 8 pm today until 9 am tomorrow. More than 25 schools in Shropshire are among those not opening. Storm Goretti has already hit the UK, bringing heavy snow and powerful gusts of up to 99mph, leaving many without power in southwest England on Thursday evening.
The Met Office issued an amber alert stating that rain associated with the storm will transition into heavy snow, potentially causing power outages and isolating rural communities. Snowfall of 10 to 15 cm is anticipated in the affected areas, with up to 30 cm on higher ground in Wales and the Peak District.
A yellow snow warning, valid until midday tomorrow, covers the same regions along with parts of northern and southern England, including London. Additionally, a second yellow warning for snow and ice, in effect until midday tomorrow, includes northern and eastern Scotland as well as northern England. In Scotland, over 250 schools will remain shut, including 150 in Aberdeenshire, several in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a couple in Moray.
In Cornwall, numerous schools closed early today due to strong winds, with the Met Office issuing a rare red weather warning for the county, including the Isles of Scilly. Wind speeds of 99mph were recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly, setting a new record for the location.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong cautioned about the possibility of “violent gusts” persisting for up to three hours before subsiding. He highlighted the severe weather conditions expected, including snowfall in Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England overnight and into Friday morning, causing significant disruptions.
Armstrong emphasized the need for people in the warning areas to stay updated with forecasts and local authorities’ messages to ensure safety and preparedness.
