Storm Goretti hits Europe – hurricane-force winds, power outages and damage

Storm Goretti has wreaked havoc across parts of Europe. After passing southern England, north-western France was particularly hard hit on Thursday.

Wind gusts of up to 132 miles per hour were recorded on the English Channel coast at a lighthouse in Gatteville-le-Phare, France.

Hundreds of thousands of households were without electricity, and transport and infrastructure were severely disrupted across the region. In England, Goretti brought hurricane-force winds of up to 99 mph, causing power outages and significant disruptions to rail and air traffic.

Almost 150,000 properties were reported to be without power overnight, around 62,000 still experiencing cuts, with roads also rendered impassable by fallen trees from Longrock to St Erth in Cornwall.

Snow, freezing rain and slippery roads caused traffic problems in the Benelux countries. In Germany, this was the case on Thursday night and Friday morning. In Bavaria alone, there were dozens of accidents, mostly involving minor damage to vehicles and minor injuries.

The situation will worsen during the day, particularly in northern Germany, as snowfall will continue for longer. This will be accompanied by a strong easterly wind, which will cause widespread snow drifts.

As a precautionary measure, schools in many cities and municipalities have been closed. There are also disruptions to rail services, and some buses are not running. A storm surge is threatening the Baltic Sea coast. On Saturday, widespread snowfall is expected in Central Europe.