Storm Goretti Batters Europe with Hurricane Winds and Heavy Snowfall
Storm Goretti, also known as Elli, has swept across Europe with hurricane-force winds and heavy snow. The severe weather has disrupted travel, cut power supplies, and forced the shutdown of key infrastructure. Authorities are warning of ongoing hazards as conditions remain dangerous.
The storm first struck northern France, leaving around 380,000 households without electricity. The Flamanville nuclear power plant was temporarily taken offline as a precaution due to the extreme weather.
In Germany, Deutsche Bahn halted all long-distance rail services in the north until Sunday. Major routes, including the Berlin-Hannover-Ruhr connection and the Hamburg-Hanover-Frankfurt line, have been severely affected. The first Bundesliga match of the year between St. Pauli and RB Leipzig was also called off because of heavy snow.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Airport in the UK suspended operations after blizzard conditions made flying unsafe. At sea, AIDA Cruises rerouted its ship AIDAnova, skipping a planned stop in Southampton to avoid the worst of the storm.
Despite the widespread disruption, meteorologists have downplayed fears, stating that Goretti is not an unprecedented event.
Travel delays and power outages are expected to continue as the storm moves across the continent. Airlines, rail operators, and energy providers are working to restore services, but conditions remain hazardous in many areas. The full extent of the damage will become clearer once the weather improves.
