Storm Austen Batters UK With 111mph Winds, Leaving Thousands Without Power
Powerful winds reaching 111mph have battered Cornwall in south-west England, leaving thousands of homes without electricity as Storm Austen sweeps across the United Kingdom.
The storm has prompted the UK Met Office to issue multiple yellow and amber weather warnings for strong winds and heavy rainfall, with another storm, named Boelo, expected to bring further severe weather over the weekend.
More than 9,000 homes in Cornwall were without electricity following the severe weather, while fallen trees forced road closures and several schools shut for the day as a safety precaution.
Schools in Guernsey were also closed, while ferry services to the Isles of Scilly were suspended.
An amber weather warning was in effect across Cornwall and parts of Devon between 3am and 10am on Friday, accompanied by a danger-to-life alert for sea fronts and coastal roads due to large waves and debris being thrown onto shorelines.
The Met Office also warned that winds reaching 70mph could affect south-west England and Wales, with a yellow warning remaining in place until 5pm on Friday. Another yellow wind warning covering southern England and the Midlands was scheduled to remain in effect until 9pm, with gusts of up to 55mph expected.
Meanwhile, a yellow rain warning was issued for parts of Scotland from 6am on Friday until 3am on Saturday.
Heavy rainfall was forecast across the Scottish Borders, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with between 20mm and 40mm expected in many areas and isolated totals of up to 80mm. The downpours could trigger flooding and disrupt travel before conditions gradually improve from the west.
According to the Met Office, Storm Austen intensified rapidly due to its interaction with a powerful jet stream over the Atlantic. The atmospheric conditions supported a sharp fall in surface pressure, strengthening the storm system.
Storm Boelo Set to Bring More Severe Weather
As Storm Austen moves away towards the North Sea, Storm Boelo is expected to bring another round of heavy rain and strong winds across the UK from Saturday.
The strongest winds are forecast across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
An amber wind warning has been issued for parts of Scotland from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, with gusts potentially reaching 80mph in exposed coastal areas.
The strongest winds are expected to affect western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland initially on Saturday evening before spreading eastwards overnight and into Sunday.
A wider yellow wind warning covering parts of northern England, the East Midlands and Scotland is also in place for the same period. The Met Office warned that the conditions could cause power outages, damage to buildings, road closures and transport delays.
Northern Ireland could experience gusts of up to 75mph, accompanied by heavy, blustery showers. A separate yellow wind warning for the region runs from 10am on Saturday until midday on Sunday.
The UK weather outlook indicates that Sunday will bring sunny intervals and showers, with heavier downpours and particularly strong winds in northern areas.
Rain is expected to spread across the country on Monday, although southern parts of the UK could experience milder conditions.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to remain alert to weather warnings and potential travel disruption as the two storms move across the country.
