Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Storm Goretti Wreaks Havoc: 400,000 Homes Without Power

1/9/2026

50 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Storm Goretti is hammering northern France and southern England with heavy snowfall and winds over 210 kph, leaving about 400,000 homes without power and snow expected this weekend.
In France, one man was seriously injured repairing his roof.
In the United Kingdom, over 40,000 properties faced outages and more than 250 schools closed in Scotland.
In Germany, up to 20 cm of snow is expected, with rail disruptions already reported.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888, occurring from March 11-14, paralyzed the northeastern United States, causing over 400 deaths and disrupting transportation for days. This storm, with winds exceeding 80 mph and snowdrifts burying homes, prompted infrastructure changes, including the underground placement of telegraph lines. Today's Storm Goretti, with winds over 210 kph, underscores the ongoing impact of extreme weather on modern society.

1 of 2

Story summary

Storm Goretti is hammering northern France and southern England with heavy snowfall and winds over 210 kph, leaving about 400,000 homes without power and snow expected this weekend.
In France, one man was seriously injured repairing his roof.
In the United Kingdom, over 40,000 properties faced outages and more than 250 schools closed in Scotland.
In Germany, up to 20 cm of snow is expected, with rail disruptions already reported.

1 / 2