Cornwall hit by red warning Storm Goretti winds

Tens of thousands of homes have been left without power during period of a red warning for wind which has been issued for parts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with Storm Goretti bringing gusts of up to 100mph (160km/h).

The warning is in force from 16:00 GMT to 23:00 as forecasters warn "exposed places" are most at risk, bringing the risk of falling debris and a danger to life, the Met Office said.

It warned of disruption to transport services, power cuts and very large waves. About100schools shut early in Cornwall and Network Rail said all trains in Cornwall will be suspended.

At about 19:00 GMT St Mary's Airport recorded gust speeds of 99mph (159km/h).

According to the National Grid power cut map, more than 39,000 homes remain without power in Cornwall.

There is a further yellow warning for wind for Devon and Cornwall from 15:00 on Thursday to 08:00 on Friday.

Cornwall Council and the Isles of Scilly Council urged residents to stay indoors where possible during the weather warning.

Cornwall Council also advised all schools and colleges to close early and nearly 100 in the county followed the advice.

"Please secure garden furniture, bins, and other loose items, and check your property before the storm hits," said the local authority.

"The storm may damage infrastructure causing power cuts and disruption to mobile phone coverage.

"Consider gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items you already have at home."

Network Rail said all trains in Cornwall, between Exeter and Okehampton, and between Exeter and Barnstaple, would be suspended from 18:00 until Friday morning and advised people to check journeys.

Cornwall Council advised all schools and colleges to close early and about 100 in the county followed the advice.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it expected a large amount of calls due to the weather and urged people to contact 999 in a life and death emergency.

Plymouth City Council warned people to expect flying debris, as well as high waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties.

It said Mount Batten breakwater had been closed and flood barriers were being put out on the Barbican.

The Watering Hole pubon Perranporth beach said it had closed early on Thursday afternoon for safety reasons.

Network Rail advised passengers planning to travel on the suspended routes to travel earlier in the day to complete their journey.

It said Great Western Railway (GWR) would continue to operate as many trains as possible on all other routes, but severe weather may lead to short notice changes and cancellations.

It added early morning services on Friday could also be affected on these routes, with short-notice cancellations possible.

Goretti has rapidly deepened in the last 24 hours, with a 22 millibar drop in pressure recorded at RNAS Culdrose from 00:00 to 14:00 recording, putting it in the category of "explosive deepening" - also known as a "weather bomb", say forecasters.

The term explosive cyclogenesis is used where the central pressure drops by 1 millibar an hour over a 24-hour period and it generally results in particularly powerful gusts of wind over a period of a few hours.

Two emergency alerts were issued by the Cabinet Office and are being sent to the mobile phones of about 500,000 people in the affected areas.

The first was sent at about 15:00 to people in the Isles of Scilly and the second to people in Cornwall at about 17:00.

A spokesperson said: "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."

The emergency alert will continue to be broadcast while the red weather warning remains in place, meaning people will receive the alert if they enter areas covered by it.

Sam Gillion, head teacher at Sennon Primary School, said they will be allowing a late register on Friday morning after the head has assessed if the site is safe.

The school is run by a trust who gave the advice to offer parents to collect their children early today and Gillion made the decision to keep the school open until normal time.

The stormy weather is set to batter the South West with heavy rain and severe gales.

Even after the warnings expire, gusts of 50 to 60mph (80 to 96km/h) are expected to continue.

Winds of 50 to 70mph (80 to 112km/h) are likely across the region, with the strongest gusts near exposed coasts and hills.

Drivers and commuters are being urged to take extra care as travel disruption is possible.

National Grid said there will be dozens of engineers in Cornwall ready to respond and customers were urged to report any power cuts.

Devon County Council said the Taw Bridge in Barnstaple and Torridge Bridge in Bideford could close later.

The RAC motoring group sad the red warning "is every bit as serious as it sounds".

Spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "Avoid the roads – unless absolutely essential – until the storm winds have passed.

"With the worst conditions expected in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, we strongly urge motorists in these areas to stay safe by parking well away from trees that could be uprooted by the strongest winds the area has seen in years."

Gill Rylance, from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Falmouth, said the safest option was to "stay well away from the coast and batten down the hatches at home".

"We know some mariners have no choice but to be out at sea, but for everyone else, please stay safe," she told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"If you are tempted to watch the waves, do it from a safe distance and keep your wits about you."

The agency is also monitoring the risk of coastal flooding. High tides combined with strong onshore winds could push water levels up later, leading to possible coastal overtopping in some areas.

Amber cold weather health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency until January 11, meaning severe impacts across health and social care services are expected.