The UK could be hit by a third storm next week, following 'hot on the heels' of Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, with forecasters warning of potential 90mph winds.
Friday's Storm Austen brought gusts of 84mph in Jersey, and Storm Boelo is expected to bring 85mph winds in the north over the weekend. Forecasters say there is potential for another deep area of low pressure to arrive next week, bringing even stronger winds, but it is too early for it to be named.
Storm Austen's impact
Storm Austen caused significant disruption on Friday. Trees were flattened, debris was sent flying, and overtopping waves caused flooding and damaged Brighton's pier. Cornwall was hit the hardest, leaving 18,000 homes without power, around 140 schools closed, and police dealing with travel chaos, with 100 weather-related incidents during Friday morning's rush-hour.
The public were warned to avoid seafronts and harbours because of large waves overtopping and causing flooding. The Met Office issued 'risk to life and property' amber wind warnings as the storms descended.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, talking about 'resilience,' said: "We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding" and warned the record-breaking summers could be "more likely going forward."
"We are living in a world where unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common, obviously weather events," he said, adding: "We are in a situation today where the UK is facing storms and obviously we feel for the people without power in Cornwall right now."
Flood warnings and travel disruption
Three urgent flood warnings were released throughout the day, two along parts of the Dorset and South Devon Coast, before it was extended to rivers with high water levels in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Environment Agency urged people in affected areas to "move your loved ones to a safe place" and to higher ground.
All Channel Islands airports were closed, and flights were also cancelled at Exeter Airport. CrossCountry, Great Western and South Western train services were among those hit by severe disruption.
Storm Austen, named after the first director of the Irish meteorologist service, hit Brighton's iconic West Pier, first opened in 1866, when huge waves toppled some of the structure. The pier, closed to the public in 1975, was previously declared beyond repair after damage caused in earlier storms.
Stephen Royle, who lives opposite Brighton's West Pier, told the BBC: "It's the first thing I see when I look out of my window every day," he says. "I am shocked by the amount of pier that's ended up in the sea. The waves rolling in were enormous. Such a shame."
Storm Boelo and the potential third storm
The Met Office's meteorologist Alex Burkill said Saturday's weather looks "pretty miserable" with the second storm possibly having a "greater impact." He said: "It was in the south west that we saw the very strong winds gust of 76mph in Isle of Scilly. The next low that is coming in is mainly affecting the north…we could be looking at gusts of 80mph."
"The winds are going to whip up…there are potential of gusts of 85mph. It's looking at being set and windy for many areas," the forecaster predicted, saying by next weekend there should be calmer weather ready for Halloween. He added that subtropical Storm Josephine in the Atlantic could help fuel a third.
AccuWeather International Forecaster Lydia Burroughs said: "The windstorm linked to Josephine early next week is also expected to track to the north. If the storm tracks more toward the east, the western coasts of Ireland and Scotland could see wind gusts over 90 mph."
Storm Boelo, a name suggested by the Dutch public, is expected to bring wet and windy weather across the whole of the UK on Saturday, with motorists warned to take care due to surface water and spray on faster roads and motorways. National Rail says routes are affected across England, Scotland and Wales across the weekend, with disruption possible into Monday. CrossCountry services in south-west England will be disrupted until at least the end of Saturday.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: "Storm Boelo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, impacting the opposite end of the country to Storm Austen."
"Gusts of 70-80mph in exposed coastal areas and high ground are possible, with 50-60mph gusts more widely. The strong winds will be accompanied by heavy rain, making for an impactful weekend of weather. Severe weather warnings and forecast detail will continue to develop, so people should keep up to date with the forecast over the next few days."
