Met Office warns Storm Goretti will bring up to 20cm of snow to the Midlands and East England, with temperatures dropping to -12.5C – colder than Iceland
Weather – Thursday 8 January 2026 @ 9pm (Image: Ventusky)
The Met Office has issued a warning for up to eight more inches of snowfall across vast areas of the country in the coming days. The latest severe low-pressure system, dubbed Storm Goretti, is expected to cause travel disruptions, power outages and isolate rural communities on Thursday and Friday.
Hundreds of schools have been forced to close due to the adverse weather conditions, with temperatures plummeted to -12.5C in Marham, Norfolk, colder than Iceland, while the Scottish Highlands experienced lows of -11C. The Met Office has issued at least one weather warning each day until Saturday, with the Midlands anticipated to be the hardest hit by the intense cold spell.
Areas such as Worcestershire and Warwickshire are predicted to see up to eight inches of snow accumulation by Friday midday, according to the Met Office.
Rural communities in these counties and neighbouring ones may face isolation. Parts of southwest Wales, including the South Wales Valleys, could also encounter similar difficulties, with the heaviest snowfall from the next wave expected early Thursday night.
The storm is then forecast to move eastward throughout the night.
Snowfall is set to become more widespread in the early hours of Friday morning. Although the heaviest snowfall will be concentrated in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, regions further north will also receive a light dusting, including parts of North Yorkshire.
However, the full force of Storm Goretti will sweep further eastward, pummelling the East Midlands and eastern England during Friday’s rush hour period.
NEWCASTLE-UNDER_LYME, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Children sledge as school’s are closed in many places in Staffordshire on January 06, 2026 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Northamptonshire, for instance, may experience approximately six inches of snowfall by Friday afternoon.
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly explained: “A further spell of snow is expected to move east across central and northern Scotland today. Amber warnings are in place until 7pm this evening.
“Elsewhere, snow showers will be mixed with rain and sleet and it will be another very cold day, with strengthening winds too. Overnight, cold air pushes back in with temperatures widely dipping below freezing again. This means there is the risk of further ice overnight and a new yellow weather warnings for ice covers the majority of the UK until Wednesday morning.”
Frigid Arctic conditions continue to dominate across Britain as well.
The wind chill factor will make it feel as bitter as -12C on Friday, despite actual air temperatures being somewhat milder.
Nevertheless, actual air temperatures plummeted to -12.5C in Marham, Norfolk at the beginning of this week.
