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Amber weather warnings have been issued across the UK with Storm Goretti expected to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds.
As much as 30cm of snow could fall in the Midlands while gusts of up to 90mph could batter more exposed areas as the weather brings a potential risk to life in parts of the country.
On Thursday there will be a cloudy and cold start to the day with wintry weather as Storm Goretti comes in from the south-west.
The Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the storm would mean “wet, windy and wintry weather” in parts of the UK. He said Goretti, named by Meteo France, would bring “some strong winds and some significant snow to central and perhaps southern parts”.
He added: “As that rain pushes its way and it hits against that cold air that we currently have across us ... and so on the northern edge, we are likely to see some fairly significant snow as we go through later tomorrow and into Friday.”
Amber warnings have an “increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather” compared with yellow warnings, meaning there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and potential risk to life and property.
The Met Office chief forecaster, Neil Armstrong, described Storm Goretti as a “multi-hazard event” with heavy rain, strong winds and snow. He said 5-10cm of snow was likely widely in Wales and the Midlands, with 15-25cm – and a potential for up to 30cm – in some areas.
Strong winds with gusts of 50-60mph were likely to affect south-western areas on Thursday afternoon and evening, with gusts of 60-70mph along exposed hills and coasts, the Met Office said.
It has issued an amber warning for heavy snow from Thursday evening into Friday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands and South Yorkshire. The snowfall could delay or cancel rail services and flights, rural communities may be cut off, and power cuts and disruption to mobile phone services are likely.
The warning stretches from Sheffield in the north, down to Leicester, across much of the West Midlands and into Wales. It comes into force at 8pm on Thursday and ends at 9am on Friday.
National Highways issued its own amber warning for snow in the West and East Midlands, which lasts from 6pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday. The agency said in a statement: “Routes particularly around Birmingham across to Leicester and Nottingham will see particularly difficult driving conditions and consideration of the weather forecast should be taken before commencing journeys, with considerable delays possible.”
Drivers were also warned that the A628 Woodhead Pass would be closed both ways between the A616 at Flouch and the A57 at Hollingworth from 8pm on Thursday due to the severe weather.
An amber wind warning from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday has been issued across parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as forecasters warn of 80-90mph gusts in “exposed places”. There is a further yellow warning for wind for much of south-west England from 3pm on Thursday to 6am on Friday.
There is also a yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland from 10pm on Wednesday until midday on Thursday and a yellow warning for ice in Northern Ireland from midnight until 10am on Thursday.
A yellow snow warning has been issued for a large part of England and much of Wales, and will be in place from 5pm on Thursday until midday on Friday. The Met Office said heavy snow may cause disruption and difficult travelling conditions.
Burkill said 20cm or more of snow could settle, adding that was “enough to cause some severe disruption”.
A yellow rain warning has also been issued across the east of England from 6pm on Thursday to 9pm on Friday, and in west Wales from midday on Thursday to 10am on Friday.
Amber cold weather health alerts have been put in place by the UK Health Security Agency until 11 January, meaning severe impacts across health and social care services are expected. Officials expect a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, with younger age groups also potentially affected.
