Storm Austen, the first named storm of the UK season, is set to bring 90mph winds and heavy rain to British shores from tonight, with the Met Office issuing multiple warnings and some schools closing on Friday.
The low-pressure system is expected to affect south-west England in the early hours of Friday, with an amber wind warning in place for Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am. Webcams from across the country, including at Burry Port Lifeboat Station in Carmarthenshire and Newquay Harbour in Cornwall, are capturing the storm's arrival.
Flooding Fears and Closures
The Environment Agency has expressed particular concern for the South Devon coast at Beesands, Torcross, Slapton and Dawlish, with flooding feared in the next 48 hours. Already, Friday's meeting at Newbury racecourse has been cancelled, parts of the Eastbourne seafront promenade are closed, and Betteshanger Country Park has shut.
Winds of this strength could blow trees over, bringing a significant risk of transport disruption and potential damage to buildings. The Channel Islands are expecting severe gales with gusts up to 80mph, and all schools there are ordered to close on Friday.
Met Office Warning
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: "Storm Austen is expected to bring a spell of impactful weather to parts of the UK from Thursday night and through Friday."
He added: "While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, there is increasing confidence in the potential for disruptive winds across parts of southwest England, which is why an Amber warning has been issued."
Winds gusts could reach 60-70 mph for a time, combined with spells of heavy rain. Bulmer advised people in affected areas to keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings as the event develops.
Electrical Safety Advice
NICEIC, the UK's leading certification body for the electrical industry, is urging households to take precautions ahead of potential flooding and power cuts. Their advice includes switching off the fuse board if flooding is expected, unplugging appliances to avoid surge damage, and avoiding candles during outages.
Over the weekend, Storm Boelo will affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England with what the Met Office described as "impactful winds". The Met Office is recommending preparing for possible power cuts, as past storms in 2026 left thousands without power.
Weather warnings include an amber wind warning for Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Plymouth and parts of west Devon from 01:00 to 10:00 BST on Friday. Yellow wind and rain warnings cover swathes of southern England, south Wales, the English Channel coast and parts of Scotland. A red warning has been issued for the Channel Islands, with Jersey Met warning of gusts potentially reaching 85mph.
