The United Kingdom is experiencing a severe cold snap, with Storm Goretti, named by Météo-France, poised to bring widespread snow, heavy rain, and severe gales across England and Wales on Thursday and Friday. This 'multi-hazard' event is expected to blanket the Home Counties with up to eight inches (20cm) of snow and deliver significant snowfall on higher ground across England and Wales. Wind gusts could reach 70mph on exposed coasts in Devon and Cornwall. The Met Office has issued new yellow snow and wind warnings for South West England, the Midlands, and Wales, in addition to amber snow warnings for northern parts of Scotland, indicating a higher risk of severe disruption.

The extreme weather has already led to extensive disruption nationwide. Over 1,000 schools across the UK have been forced to close, including more than 300 in Scotland, 380 in Wales, and 239 in England, with Aberdeenshire alone accounting for 159 closures. Transportation systems have been severely impacted, with delays and cancellations affecting roads, trains, and flights. Incidents include a double-decker bus crashing on an icy surface in Liverpool, and drivers and walkers becoming trapped in deep snow in parts of Wales, some requiring rescue by vintage WWII cargo carriers and even military vehicles.

Rail services have faced widespread issues. LNER advised passengers to defer travel between London King's Cross, Leeds, and Edinburgh due to a broken rail, and issued a 'do not travel' warning between Edinburgh and Aberdeen because of significant snowfall. Eurostar cancelled trains from London to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Frozen points impacted Great Northern services in Norfolk and Merseyrail's Wirral lines. London's underground network also saw disruptions on the Northern, Piccadilly, Metropolitan, Central, Circle, and District lines due to points failures, faulty trains, and engineering work. ScotRail reported snow-related disruptions across various routes in Scotland, and Glasgow's subway network suspended services due to ice on the third rail.

Aberdeenshire Council declared a 'major incident' following days of continuous snowfall, anticipating a 'prolonged period of significant impacts,' including power cuts and the potential for communities to become cut off. All schools in the county were closed. North East MSP Liam Kerr and MP Andrew Bowie called on the Scottish and UK Governments, respectively, to mobilize military assistance for snow clearance, delivery of essential supplies, and access to remote communities. They described the situation as 'critical,' with many individuals increasingly cut off from essential food and medical provisions.

Temperatures have plummeted across the UK, with an overnight low of -12.5C (13.8F) recorded at Marham in Norfolk. London, Birmingham, Bournemouth, and Southampton experienced lows of -8C (18F). Scotland received the heaviest snowfall, with 52cm (1ft 8in) recorded at Tomintoul in Banffshire, and even central London witnessed snow flurries. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) extended its amber cold health alerts for England until Sunday, citing ongoing concerns over a 'rise in deaths.' Additionally, cold weather payments have been triggered in over 450 postcode areas to assist vulnerable households with heating costs.

Public safety warnings have been widely issued, particularly concerning frozen waterways. An incident in Epping Forest, Essex, saw a man and a passer-by fall into a frozen lake while attempting to rescue a dog, prompting Essex Fire and Rescue Service to urge the public to avoid venturing onto ice and to call 999 in emergencies. The Alzheimer's Society also provided advice for checking on family and neighbours with dementia, offering tips for staying warm and safe during the challenging colder months. Police Scotland advised planning ahead and considering the necessity of journeys during hazardous driving conditions. The Scottish Government acknowledged the 'significant' impact of snow across northern Scotland, emphasizing ongoing efforts to maintain transport and public services while urging the public to plan ahead and look out for each other as cold temperatures and further warnings are anticipated.