Storm Austen: amber warning for South West England as strong winds hit UK
The Met Office warns of travel disruption, power cuts and a possible danger to life as gusts of up to 80mph hit Cornwall and parts of Devon.
At a glance
- An amber weather warning is in force for Cornwall and parts of Devon, where gusts could reach 80mph in exposed places.
- Yellow wind warnings cover most of England and Wales and part of Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, on Friday.
- Some schools are closed, train cancellations and speed restrictions are possible, and ferries to Ireland were cancelled.
An amber weather warning came into force across parts of the UK on Friday as Storm Austen brought powerful winds and heavy rain, with South West England forecast to take the worst of it.
The Met Office warning covers Cornwall and parts of Devon and runs until 10:00 BST. Gusts of 60-70mph are forecast there, rising to 80mph in exposed locations. The Met Office has said the storm could bring travel disruption, power cuts and a possible danger to life.
Two less severe yellow warnings cover most of England and Wales throughout Friday, with gusts of 45-60mph expected and 70mph possible in places. A separate yellow warning covers part of Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, from 06:00 BST.
Travel and schools affected
Winds of this strength are expected to blow some trees over and could damage buildings, creating a risk of flying debris at the height of the storm. That brings a significant risk of transport disruption, alongside possible power cuts.
A number of schools are closed in the affected areas, and many others are opening later than usual to avoid the strongest winds. Train cancellations and speed restrictions are possible because of the danger of branches and trees blocking railway lines. Several ferry sailings have been cancelled, including crossings between Pembrokeshire and Ireland.
Strongest winds further south
The most damaging winds are expected to run to the south of the low pressure centre, putting north-west France in the firing line, where parts of Brittany could see gusts close to 90mph. The Channel Islands are also expecting severe gales with gusts of up to 80mph, and all schools in Jersey have been told to close on Friday.
In Scotland, heavy rain could cause localised flooding. A Met Office yellow warning forecasts 20-40mm of rain, with up to 80mm accumulating in a few areas through Friday.
Source: BBC Science.
Questions and answers
- Where is Storm Austen hitting the UK?
- South West England is forecast to be worst hit, with an amber warning covering Cornwall and parts of Devon. Yellow wind warnings cover most of England and Wales and part of Scotland.
- How strong are the winds in Storm Austen?
- Gusts of 60-70mph are forecast across Cornwall and parts of Devon, reaching 80mph in exposed locations. More widely across England and Wales, gusts of 45-60mph are expected, with 70mph likely in some places.
- Is Storm Austen affecting travel and schools?
- Travel disruption is expected, with possible train cancellations and speed restrictions, and some ferry sailings cancelled, including between Pembrokeshire and Ireland. A number of schools are closed or opening later.
