Storm Goretti batters UK with heavy winds and snow

Storm Goretti has battered the UK, with tens of thousands of Britons across the country facing widespread power cuts, travel disruption and school closures.The winter storm brought 99mph winds and a rare red warning was issued by the Met Office for “dangerous, stormy” winds in the south-west.Officials in the West Midlands warned of the “worst snowfall in a decade” with 5-10cm of snow on Friday, and up to 15-25cm in some areas.Snowy conditions in the west end of Aberdeen after heavy snowfall overnight. Photograph: Beth Edmonston/PAMore than 43,000 properties remained without power in the south-west at 6am on Friday, according to the National Grid’s website, while about 14,000 had no power in the West Midlands and 530 were without power in Wales.More than 450 addresses in the East Midlands were also without power heading into Friday morning, with National Grid telling customers in the south-west of England that it was aiming to have services restored by 8am.A number of weather warnings remain in place with an amber warning for snow in Wales and the Midlands, and yellow warnings for snow, rain, wind and ice across the country.Council workers clear fallen trees from a road in Falmouth, Cornwall. Photograph: Hugh Hastings/Getty ImagesIn a statement on Wednesday, Stoke-on-Trent city council said: “We are now facing the worst snowfall we have faced in 10 years. The Met Office has predicted that we could have 3.5 inches of snow and temperatures as low as -4C on Thursday into Friday morning.”Birmingham airport said on Friday its runway had reopened with a reduced service but urged passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline.It said: “Our runway has reopened on a reduced basis, and our teams are working to get passengers away as efficiently as possible. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience Storm Goretti has caused, the safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priorityIn a statement issued shortly after 6am, East Midlands airport also said its runway had reopened after being closed overnight due to heavy snow on the runway.A snowy street in Leominster, Herefordshire. Photograph: Jim Wood/SOPA Images/ShutterstockThe ferry operator DFDS said on Friday all its sailings between Dover and France were disrupted.Some schools are expected to be closed on Friday, with dozens in the Midlands and Wales announcing they would not open.The stormy conditions are expected to ease throughout Friday as the weather system moves eastward.A huge wave crashes on the jetty of the harbour at Le Conquet, western France. Photograph: Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty ImagesIn Scotland, many schools remained closed for a fifth day on Friday as the country remains gripped by ongoing wintry weather.The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of snow and ice covering much of Scotland, which comes into force at 8pm and runs until midday on Friday. It comes after several days of “intense” snowfall, ice and sub-zero temperatures that have led to school closures and travel disruption, mainly in the north of the country.A railway worker clears paths at Aviemore station as heavy snow continues to cause disruption to many part of the Highlands. Photograph: Paul Campbell/PAMore than 250 schools are due to remain closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray. Many pupils will have had a whole week off school at the start of the new term, though remote learning has been provided in many cases.