Tens of thousands of homes are without power, while one home in Cornwall has been severely damaged by fallen trees as Storm Goretti rages on. Meanwhile, Britons have been told to brace for further ice warnings this weekend. Follow the latest.
Friday 9 January 2026 20:26, UK
Storm Goretti has caused chaos for those travelling today, with strong winds battering parts of the southwest and covering other areas with snow and ice.
Tens of thousands were left without power after winds reached speeds up to 100mph – in some areas, trees were blown over onto roads.
And the weekend is set to bring more wintry weather, with yellow warnings issued by the Met Office for Saturday and Sunday.
Here’s how those warnings look for tomorrow…
Pendeen was on Storm Goretti’s course overnight.
The pictures below show some of the impact in the Cornwall village, where a clock was blown off St John the Baptist Church.
The winds also uprooted trees in the graveyard there.
Speaking to our North of England editor Steph Oliver, 30-year-old Callum Donaghey said he and another homeless man attempted to stay at a Holiday Inn in Manchester under a booking from a charity during the sub-zero conditions yesterday night. 
But “within seven seconds” of speaking to the front desk, he was told it is company policy not to let anyone homeless stay at the site.
“It was like a kick in the stomach really, a bit upsetting,” Donaghey said. 
“I was used to it really, getting knocked back and knocked back… it was a thing I was upset about, thinking ‘I’m going to be out there tonight, -6C’.
“Literally within seven seconds, he said ‘no, I won’t be taking you’. 
“That’s not good enough for me, especially when it was that cold and the payment’s been made – why weren’t we allowed in the room?”
The mental effect of the cold is “daunting”, he added, saying that “there have been times when I woke up in this cold and cried”.
Donaghey said that another hotel booking was organised by a charity.
A spokesperson for Holiday Inn told Sky News: “After speaking with team members, we recognise that this incident is not in keeping with our policy of welcoming all and should have been handled differently. 
“We sincerely apologise to the guests affected and are taking steps internally to strengthen our training.”
Our weather presenter Jo Wheeler has an update on Storm Goretti, which she says is set to move away to the east tonight, “leaving a much quieter picture for Saturday”. 
However, she notes that “the cold air returns with a severe frost expected tonight,” as well as “icy stretches on untreated roads and pavements”. 
From tomorrow evening, Wheeler says that clouds will gather “with rain moving in from the Atlantic”.  
“Meeting the cold air, there’s the potential for some short-lived disruptive snow,” she adds. 
“Mild air takes over after that with conditions less dramatic next week,” she says, cautioning “famous last words”.
Speaking to our West of England and Wales correspondent Dan Whitehead in Brecon Beacons, locals said they were making the most of the weather.
Reporting from the Peak District, our national correspondent Tom Parmenter said the conditions were “exactly as the forecasters had said” – with up to 30cm of snow in some areas…
Trees have fallen in the road on the Isles of Scilly, blocking the way to Salakee on the way to Normandy. 
Mike Kershaw, who works for the local council, posted images of damage on Facebook, and said wind gusts of up to 98 mph were recorded at the airport, “which is a new record over here!”
In an update shared late this afternoon, the National Grid said its teams “have been making strong progress restoring power”.
“We’ve successfully restored the majority of properties affected by the storm,” it said.
“And our teams will continue to work around the clock to restore power to those still affected.”
However, it has told Britons in the Midlands, South West England and South Wales that if it has not met its guaranteed service standards during the storm, users will automatically receive a payment in the coming weeks.
“You don’t need to do anything,” it added. “We’ll identify eligible customers and write to you with full details if this applies to your situation”.
National Grid also shared a link for those still without power to find welfare provisions such as warm spaces serving hot food and drinks.
Ideally, you won’t want to head out in the car during potentially treacherous weather.
But here’s some safety guidance should you find yourself needing to travel over the coming days.
Clear your windscreen
Wait for your windscreen to defrost entirely before you set off. 
Not only is it risky, it could see you hit with a fine for dangerous driving should you be caught.
And don’t just rely on your wipers – you’ll want to get your hands (or gloves) dirty and use some de-icer and arm muscle to get rid of it.
You should make sure your side windows, rear screen and wing mirrors are all cleared before you leave, too.
Boiling water is a no-go, however – this could easily freeze in subzero conditions and make things worse.
Don’t leave snow on the roof of your car
Sub-zero temperatures can often see snow compact and freeze solid on a car’s roof, creating a potential hazard.
A big slab of frozen snow could easily crack the windscreen of another vehicle travelling behind you.
Don’t leave your car unattended while it is running
It might be an appealing option to leave your car running to defrost while you wait inside, but don’t be tempted.
 A car running outside a home is an open invitation for thieves, so you’re better off staying with your vehicle at all times instead.
And it’s not good for the climate, either.
Those in Birmingham last night could be forgiven for thinking they were experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime weather phenomenon.
As snowfall blanketed much of the West Midlands, a mysterious pink glow lit up the night sky, prompting speculation on social media that the Northern Lights had come to The Second City.
The truth was more down-to-earth.
It turns out the source of the pink skies were simply LED lights being used on the pitch at Birmingham City’s football ground.
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