Storm Austen is set to bring severe weather to parts of the UK, with the Met Office urging households across dozens of Scottish areas to prepare an emergency kit as the storm threatens flooding, travel disruption and power cuts.
Yellow weather warnings for wind are in place across Wales and England on Friday and Saturday, while an amber wind warning has been issued for the far south-west of England. Wind speeds in the far south-west could reach 80mph, and coastal areas under yellow warnings could see gusts of up to 70mph. Heavy rain is also expected to pose a significant hazard, The Mirror reported.
Scottish Rain Warning and Affected Areas
Scotland is facing its own weather alert, with a yellow warning for rain covering parts of the north-east, central belt and south of the country. The warning will remain in place for 18 hours, from 6am on Friday until midnight. During this period, some areas could see as much as 80mm of rain.
The Met Office has warned that flooding could damage homes and businesses, while train and bus services may be cancelled. Difficult driving conditions are also expected, with power cuts another potential risk. People living in areas covered by the warning have been advised to consider preparing a "flood plan and an emergency flood kit" ahead of the heavy rainfall.
The yellow rain warning covers the following areas of Scotland: Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian.
Met Office Forecast Beyond Storm Austen
Conditions are expected to remain unsettled beyond Storm Austen, with the Met Office warning that the changeable weather is likely to continue through the weekend and into next week. The national weather agency has already named a second storm, Storm Boelo, with further wind warnings issued for Saturday and Sunday.
The alerts cover Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern parts of England, where gusts could once again reach up to 80mph. The warnings are due to come into force at 6pm on Saturday and remain in place until 9pm on Sunday, bringing the prospect of further disruption as the UK braces for another spell of severe weather.
