The government has sent out an emergency alert to hundreds of thousands of Britons warning of an imminent danger to life.
Some half a million people will receive the alerts at 5pm on Thursday and the first alert was sent to people living in the Isles of Scilly at 3pm.
People who live in Cornwall will receive the alert by the Cabinet Office as Storm Goretti is set to hit with “violent gusts” of 100mph or more.
The Met Office has issued a rare “danger to life’ red warning for wind, for the Isles of Scilly and much of Cornwall as Storm Goretti is forecast to bring gusts of 100mph or more.
An Amber warning for snow has also been issued for Wales and the Midlands and parts of northern England.
Met Office issues a rare ‘danger to life’ warning as winds of 100mph set to hit parts of the UK
A deep area of low pressure crossing the south of the UK will bring a ‘multi-hazard’ event through the rest of Thursday and into Friday.
The wind warning for the Isles of Scilly and much of Cornwall has been upgraded to a Red warning due to an increase in likelihood of exceptionally strong winds that could cause significant impacts. Winds will rapidly increase on Thursday evening, lasting for 2-3 hours before easing later.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said, “The Met Office has issued a red warning for the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall from 4pm until 11pm on Thursday, January 8.
“In light of the damaging winds and associated disruption, the Cabinet Office is issuing two Emergency Alerts to people in affected areas.
“The first was sent at approximately 3pm on Thursday, January 8 to people in the Isles of Scilly. The second will be sent at approximately 5pm on Thursday, January 8 to people in Cornwall.
“The Emergency Alert system will send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas, containing information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe.
“Compatible mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent. The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.”
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