Winter storm slams UK and France as cold snap spreads across Europe

Thousands of homes and businesses across northern France and southern England were left without power Friday as Storm Goretti swept through the region with destructive force, causing widespread travel disruptions and leaving communities struggling with severe weather conditions.

The powerful low-pressure system hammered the Isles of Scilly overnight, with wind gusts reaching a dangerous 99 mph (159 kph) in the archipelago off England’s southwestern coast. Local officials reported numerous blocked roads, structurally compromised buildings, and power outages that also disrupted water supplies to some residents.

National Grid confirmed that more than 57,000 customers across southwestern England, the Midlands and Wales were without electricity as crews worked to restore power in challenging conditions.

The storm’s collision with an existing mass of Arctic air created a particularly dangerous weather pattern, bringing heavy snow to northern areas while southern regions experienced torrential rainfall. This weather system extended the difficulties already facing northern Scotland, where snowplows have been operating continuously to keep roads passable after more than half a meter (approximately 20 inches) of snow fell earlier in the week.

The severe conditions forced over 250 schools across Scotland to remain closed Friday, with some institutions unable to open for a fifth consecutive day as safety concerns persisted.

Transportation networks across the United Kingdom experienced significant disruption. National Rail advised travelers throughout England, Scotland, and Wales to check service status before journeys, as the storm had compromised rail operations across all three nations. Birmingham Airport temporarily suspended operations due to snowfall before reopening with limited runway capacity.

The Met Office, Britain’s national weather service, had issued a rare red weather warning—its highest alert level—for southwestern England on Thursday evening, indicating “very likely” life-threatening conditions. Such warnings are reserved for only the most extreme weather events.

Across the English Channel, northwestern France also faced Storm Goretti’s fury. By midday Friday, approximately 320,000 homes remained without power, down from 380,000 earlier in the day, according to national power grid operator Enedis. The majority of outages were concentrated in Normandy, where an extraordinary overnight wind gust of 213 kph (132 mph) was recorded in Gatteville-le-Phare.

Météo-France, the country’s national weather service, had issued advance warnings urging residents to stay home. Regional train services across northwestern France were suspended, with disruptions expected to continue through Friday afternoon at minimum. While high-speed rail services remained operational, and Paris airports anticipated minimal impact on flights, local transportation networks faced significant challenges.

The severe weather was not limited to western Europe. Central and Eastern European nations continued to endure a bitter cold spell, with some locations experiencing nighttime temperatures plunging to double-digit negative readings.

In the Czech Republic, heavy snowfall Friday morning created substantial traffic problems in Prague and western regions. Prague Vaclav Havel Airport reported flight delays and cancellations, while the major D5 highway connecting Prague to Germany was blocked by trucks at two locations near the border for hours. Public transportation in parts of the Czech capital came to a complete standstill.

Germany faced similar challenges as Deutsche Bahn halted long-distance rail service in the northern part of the country, stranding thousands of travelers. Roads and rail connections throughout Germany were affected by high winds and heavy snow. Public bus services were canceled in many regions, and numerous schools remained closed.

The winter conditions proved deadly in Bavaria, where two people died in a head-on collision after one vehicle lost control, presumably due to weather conditions. In the Upper Palatinate region, another driver was killed when his car veered off the road and crashed into a tree.

Ferry services along Germany’s North Sea coast in Lower Saxony largely ceased operations, with several islands including Langeoog, Spiekeroog, Norderney, and Wangerooge becoming inaccessible due to strong easterly winds.

The weather also impacted sporting events, with Leipzig’s scheduled German Bundesliga soccer match at Hamburg’s St. Pauli called off for Saturday due to heavy snow. Despite extensive efforts to clear the playing surface, removing snow from the stadium roof proved particularly problematic, leading to the cancellation.