Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is set to bring heavy rain and gusts of up to 70mph to parts of the country from late Thursday into Friday. A yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office, with potential impacts including travel disruption, power cuts, and a possibility of injuries from debris.
Warning Areas and Timing
The yellow warning currently covers southern parts of England and south Wales. Forecasters expect Tuesday and Wednesday to bring spells of rain and showers for many, before the focus shifts to the southwest of the UK late Thursday as Storm Austen approaches.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said the "exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined."
Forecast Details
An area of low pressure forming in the Atlantic will rapidly deepen as it is invigorated by the jet stream. Storm Austen is expected to move from west to east through Friday, with winds generally diminishing later in the day.
Rain is an additional hazard, with 20-30mm expected in many places and higher totals possible over higher ground in the west and further north on Friday.
Impact and Outlook
Crabtree said: "While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what's clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named."
He added: "Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the forecast in the coming days."
While Storm Austen's influence will wane late on Friday as it moves into the North Sea, further periods of wind and rain are likely through the weekend and into the start of next week, with the heaviest rain more likely in western areas.
