Storm Austen to hit UK within hours as Met Office issues amber warning over 'danger to life'
Amber and yellow weather warnings are in place for parts of the UK as Storm Austen is set to hit.
The storm is the first named storm of the season and is forecast to bring 80mph winds and heavy rainfall, which could lead to travel disruption.
Storm Austen is set to hit the UK from midnight tonight (22 October) through into Friday (23 October) afternoon.
The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning between 3am and 10am on Friday for Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and Plymouth, where gusts of 60 to 70mph will develop with some exposed areas expecting 80mph.
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The Met Office said there may be patches of heavy rain while the rest of Friday will remain windy but gusts will gradually ease off as the day goes on.
The forecaster has warned there is a good chance power cuts may occur, while some buildings may be damaged and a danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads and sea front.
A yellow warning for wind is in place for parts of the South East, South West, Wales and Herefordshire in the West Midlands between midnight and 2pm on Friday.
While a yellow warning for rain has been issued in parts of Scotland between 6am on Friday and 3am on Saturday.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “Storm Austen is expected to bring a spell of impactful weather to parts of the UK from Thursday night and through Friday.
“While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, there is increasing confidence in the potential for disruptive winds across parts of southwest England, which is why an Amber warning has been issued.
“Winds gusts could potentially reach 60-70mph for a time, and these strong winds will be combined with spells of heavy rain. People in affected areas should keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings as the event develops.”
Ross Macleod, RNLI water safety manager, has asked people not to take ‘unnecessary risks’ when visiting the coast.
He said: “If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.”
Why is it called Storm Austen?
The Met Office storm year runs from September to August, with each 12-month period having its own alphabetical list of names that are used to label successive storms.
This year’s list begins with Austen, which was chosen by Met Eireann in honour of Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service.
The naming will then continue with Boelo, Chloe, Dano and Evelyn, ending at W with Wende.
Met Office Head of Warnings and Guidance, Holly Clements, said: “For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively.
“A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.”
Claire Reid