Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is expected to bring gusts of up to 60mph to southern areas of the UK at the end of the week, forecasters have stated. The Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning for strong wind, covering most of south-west England and southern Wales, as well as parts of the south coast as far east as Brighton.
The warning is active from midnight to midday on Friday. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree noted that while the exact track of Storm Austen is still being determined, an impactful period of weather is anticipated, with potential for disruption. Peak gusts exceeding 70mph are possible in the most exposed coastal areas, with 50-60mph likely more widely within the warning area.
Storm Austen is expected to approach the south-west of the UK by Thursday, moving from west to east through Friday, with winds diminishing later in the day. Around 20mm-30mm of rain is also expected in many places. The storm is forecast to move into the North Sea late on Friday, though more wind and rain are likely throughout the weekend and into the start of next week, with heavier rain more probable in western areas.