Met Office issues amber warning for Storm Austen – 4 areas face ‘danger to life’

Strong winds are set to batter four areas in England, bringing gusts of up to 80mph, as flying debris could pose danger to life. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for wind covering the far south-west of England . The warning will be in place on Friday, between 3am and 10am, with the forecaster saying Storm Austen is likely to bring severe weather conditions that will have significant impact. The warning reads: "A spell of very strong northwesterly winds is likely on Friday morning. There is a good chance that gusts of 60-70 mph will develop widely for a time with perhaps some gusts around 80 mph for exposed headlands. "Very strong winds will be combined with spells of heavy rain. Remaining windy for the rest of Friday but winds will gradually ease." Cornwall Devon Isles of Scilly Plymouth This comes as Storm Austen has been named by the Met Office with disruptive wind and rain for some from late Thursday and into Friday. The forecaster said: "Storm Austen is likely to bring some disruption and possible damaging winds on Friday morning." People should expect longer journey times and cancellations across road, rail, air and ferry services, along with damage to buildings and some road and bridge closures. The Met Office said: "Flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life. "There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage. Injuries and danger to life are likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties." A yellow weather warning for wind was already covering Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and Plymouth, with 35 more areas across Wales and the south coast highlighted. These areas could see gusts of 50-60mph, while some coastal or exposed areas could see 70mph or more. The warning will be in place on Friday, between midnight and 2pm. Brighton and Hove East Sussex Hampshire Isle of Wight Kent Portsmouth Southampton West Sussex Bath and North East Somerset Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Bristol Cornwall Devon Dorset Gloucestershire Isles of Scilly North Somerset Plymouth Somerset South Gloucestershire Torbay Wiltshire Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Neath Port Talbot Newport Pembrokeshire Powys Rhondda Cynon Taf Swansea Torfaen Vale of Glamorgan Herefordshire Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said: "While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what's clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named. "Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the forecast in the coming days." Storm Austen will move from west to east through Friday, with winds generally diminishing later in the day. Rain is an additional hazard, with 20-30mm in many places and higher totals possible over higher ground in the west and further north on Friday.