Storm Austen brings 80mph winds and power cuts across UK

Storm Austen has swept across the United Kingdom as the first named storm of the season, bringing damaging winds of up to 80mph, widespread power cuts, school closures, and significant travel disruption. Amber weather warnings were enforced across parts of the country as the severe weather impacted regional infrastructure and transport networks.

National Grid figures showed thousands of homes facing power cuts in the South West, including Cornwall and Devon. Power cuts initially affected more than 9,000 homes in Cornwall and Devon, with National Grid reporting that more than 18,000 homes were without power in the South West just before 10.30am, though the operator noted that as many as 12,000 had power restored later in the morning. The highest wind speed was recorded at St. Mary's airport on the Isles of Scilly, where gusts reached 74mph. Across the Channel, the impact was even more pronounced, with 161,000 homes left without power in France and extreme gusts striking coastal Brittany, including a 100mph recorded at Pointe du Raz.

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Flights cancelled and homes without power and schools shut as Storm Austen hits UK

Transport networks bore the brunt of the gales. Loganair confirmed multiple flight cancellations, including services to Cornwall Newquay and Jersey, while Alderney Airport on Guernsey faced closure. Exeter airport cancelled flights, including arrivals and departures from Jersey and Edinburgh. Great Western Railway imposed speed limits on routes between Devon and Cornwall to keep trains running safely, and Network Rail Scotland slowed down trains in areas with heavy rain. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group announced its vessels would not travel between Penzance and the islands. National Rail also reported service alterations in the North of England, with trains skipping stops at Weeton, Headingley, and New Pudsey, while Southern Rail announced a lightning strike at Normans Bay prevented trains from stopping.

Schools were forced to close or open late. All schools in Jersey and Guernsey closed under red weather warnings issued by Jersey Met, where an 84mph gust was recorded. A number of schools in Cornwall also closed or opened late. The Met Office warned that flying debris and large waves in coastal areas posed a danger to life, alongside potential damage to buildings and disrupted power supplies.

The Met Office issued amber weather warnings covering Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly, coming into effect from 1am and remaining in place until 10am. Yellow warnings for wind and rain expanded to cover parts of Wales, the Midlands, Scotland, and the South East and North West of England, with separate rain warnings for the Lothian Borders and southern and eastern Scotland.

Attention turns rapidly to the horizon as forecasters warn that a second named system, Storm Boelo, is expected to arrive imminently. An amber warning for winds of up to 75mph runs from Saturday evening until Sunday evening alongside heavy rain in parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern England. A second yellow weather warning for wind covers all of Northern Ireland and parts of northern England from Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon. Residents have been advised to secure outdoor property, stay away from cliff edges and stormy seas, and monitor local weather updates as further warnings take effect.