Climateupdated 1h ago2 min read
Met Office Issues Amber Warning As Storm Austen Brings 60-70mph Gusts And Heavy Rain
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Amber warning for Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and West Devon with 80 mph gusts. Widely reported 60-70 mph winds, 80 mph in exposed areas, prompting disruption warnings.
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Storm Austen warning
The Met Office put an amber weather warning into force in parts of the UK as Storm Austen brought a swathe of powerful winds and heavy rain on Friday. The BBC said wind gusts of 60-70mph, with 80mph in exposed locations, were forecast across Cornwall and parts of Devon, where the Met Office warning was in force until 10:00 BST. The Met Office warned that the storm could bring travel disruption, power cuts and a possible danger to life, and Sky News said the amber warning for wind would remain in place until 10am.
Neil Armstrong, Met Office chief forecaster, urged people to "stay away from cliff edges and well back from stormy seas that can sweep you off your feet" as the storm approached Wales and southwest England. The Met Office also issued yellow wind warnings across England and Wales with gusts of 45 to 55mph forecast from 10am to 9pm on Friday.
Boelo follows
The Met Office named Storm Boelo as the second named storm of the season, and the BBC said it would bring another round of stormy weather to the UK over the weekend. The BBC said Boelo would bring wet and windy weather across the whole of the UK on Saturday, with poor travelling conditions expected due to surface water and spray on faster roads and motorways. Sky News said Boelo was expected to hit Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England with "impactful winds" and issued yellow wind warnings from 6pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday.
The Met Office forecast gusts of 55-65mph widely, with more exposed coastal regions facing wind speeds of 70-80mph, and the BBC said the Met Office warning for Scotland would last throughout Friday. Dr Chloe Brimicombe, from the University of Oxford, told Sky News that the two storms are "climate whiplash" after this year's five heatwaves.
Impacts and preparation
The Met Office warned that strong winds would blow some trees over, bringing a significant risk of transport disruption and there may also be some power cuts, with train cancellations and speed restrictions possible because of branches and trees blocking railways. The BBC said a Met Office yellow warning for 20-40mm of rain was forecast with up to 80mm accumulating in a few areas through Friday, and it said heavy rain in Scotland may cause some localised flooding. Sky News said the Met Office warned of disruption on the roads and public transport networks, adding that the storm will "probably" bring some damage to buildings and that flying debris is "likely".
The Met Office also advised people to secure loose outdoor items, and the London Evening Standard said people should check for loose items outside homes such as plant pots, garden furniture, trampolines and bins. The Met Office said the warnings were under constant review, and the BBC said schools were closed in impacted areas with many others opening later than usual to avoid the strongest winds.