Met Office issues amber wind warning for Cornwall and west Devon as Storm Austen approaches
The warning covers Friday morning, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast around exposed coasts and risks including flying debris and power cuts.
The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for Cornwall and parts of west Devon from 03:00 to 10:00 BST on Friday, 23 October, as Storm Austen approaches the UK, BBC Weather reported on Wednesday. Gusts could reach 80mph (130km/h) around exposed coasts, putting people at risk from flying debris and threatening power supplies and buildings.
The amber alert is the Met Office’s second-highest warning tier. BBC Weather said gusts of 60–70mph were forecast elsewhere in the warning area. The figures describe expected winds; the risks of injury, power cuts and damage are forecast impacts.
Where Storm Austen’s other warnings apply
A broader yellow wind warning covers large parts of southern England and south Wales, with travel disruption possible, according to BBC Weather. The Evening Standard reported that the yellow warning runs from midnight to noon on Friday for parts of southern England and Wales. Its forecast put possible gusts above 70mph in coastal or exposed areas and 50–60mph more widely.
The amber alert adds a higher-tier warning for Cornwall and west Devon to the earlier [yellow-warning forecast]. The new alert applies for seven hours on Friday morning, within the longer period described for the yellow warning.
Rain warnings across Ireland
Storm Austen is also expected to bring heavy rain across Ireland. RTÉ reported that Met Éireann issued a nationwide Status Yellow rain warning from 19:00 on Thursday until 08:00 on Friday. The forecaster said rain spreading eastwards could cause difficult travel, localised flooding and disruption to outdoor events. These are rain hazards under Ireland’s warning, separate from the UK amber wind alert.
Met Éireann meteorologist Ailís Hankinson said the storm’s centre was expected to track south of Ireland towards southern England on Thursday night and Friday morning, according to RTÉ. She said rain would reach southwestern Ireland first before moving across the country. Southern Ireland could feel the worst rain impacts, and Met Éireann might upgrade its warnings, she said.
Hankinson expected the storm’s rain to clear gradually by 08:00 on Friday, followed by blustery showers for the rest of the day, RTÉ reported. That forecast gives people travelling across Ireland a different timetable from the amber wind warning affecting southwestern England on Friday morning.
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Sources and context
- UK weather: Amber warning issued by Met Office ahead of Storm AustenBBC Weather
- Rain warnings issued as Storm Austen to hit IrelandRTÉ News
- When will first storm of season hit London? Capital facing 50mph winds and heavy rainEvening Standard
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