The Met Office has issued an exceptional red warning for wind across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and amber snow alerts for Wales, the Midlands and parts of northern England as Storm Goretti barrels across the UK. Gusts of 100 mph and snowfall of up to 30 cm are forecast, creating a “multi-hazard event” with life-threatening conditions.
Air travel is already severely disrupted. London-City Airport closed its runway until Friday morning, while Heathrow and Gatwick have pre-emptively culled dozens of domestic and short-haul services to create slack for de-icing and stand shortages. Guernsey and Alderney airports shut at 18:00 GMT, cancelling all remaining flights and delaying Friday’s first wave until at least 08:30. Eurocontrol reports wider knock-on delays across western Europe as flow-rates are reduced.
Should travellers need to reroute via alternative hubs or countries at short notice, VisaHQ can fast-track the transit and entry visas that sudden schedule changes may require. Their UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers real-time visa checks and digital processing, helping companies keep staff compliant even when storms blow plans off course.
![Storm Goretti triggers mass transport cancellations and red weather warnings—mobility managers activate contingency plans]()
Rail operators LNER, GWR and Avanti West Coast have imposed speed restrictions, with blanket cancellations on exposed coastal routes. The AA and National Highways have warned drivers to avoid non-essential travel overnight as blizzard conditions sweep east-north-east. Brittany Ferries suspended sailings out of Portsmouth and Plymouth; Eurotunnel freight shuttles are running but advise operators of extended check-in queues.
For businesses moving staff, the immediate tasks are traveller-tracking, welfare checks and rerouting. Mobility teams should remind employees that expenses policies cover emergency accommodation only where pre-approved, and that unused tickets must be exchanged rather than refunded to retain duty-of-care visibility. Organisations with time-critical assignments—such as engineers heading to offshore wind farms—are advised to activate “work local” protocols until the storm passes.
The Met Office expects conditions to ease gradually from Friday afternoon, but yellow warnings for ice remain through the weekend. Health authorities have extended a cold-weather alert to 11 January, urging employers to check heating adequacy in temporary accommodation used for assignees and contractors.
Air travel is already severely disrupted. London-City Airport closed its runway until Friday morning, while Heathrow and Gatwick have pre-emptively culled dozens of domestic and short-haul services to create slack for de-icing and stand shortages. Guernsey and Alderney airports shut at 18:00 GMT, cancelling all remaining flights and delaying Friday’s first wave until at least 08:30. Eurocontrol reports wider knock-on delays across western Europe as flow-rates are reduced.
Should travellers need to reroute via alternative hubs or countries at short notice, VisaHQ can fast-track the transit and entry visas that sudden schedule changes may require. Their UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers real-time visa checks and digital processing, helping companies keep staff compliant even when storms blow plans off course.
Rail operators LNER, GWR and Avanti West Coast have imposed speed restrictions, with blanket cancellations on exposed coastal routes. The AA and National Highways have warned drivers to avoid non-essential travel overnight as blizzard conditions sweep east-north-east. Brittany Ferries suspended sailings out of Portsmouth and Plymouth; Eurotunnel freight shuttles are running but advise operators of extended check-in queues.
For businesses moving staff, the immediate tasks are traveller-tracking, welfare checks and rerouting. Mobility teams should remind employees that expenses policies cover emergency accommodation only where pre-approved, and that unused tickets must be exchanged rather than refunded to retain duty-of-care visibility. Organisations with time-critical assignments—such as engineers heading to offshore wind farms—are advised to activate “work local” protocols until the storm passes.
The Met Office expects conditions to ease gradually from Friday afternoon, but yellow warnings for ice remain through the weekend. Health authorities have extended a cold-weather alert to 11 January, urging employers to check heating adequacy in temporary accommodation used for assignees and contractors.
