Amber warning issued as Storm Austen threatens UK with strong winds and heavy rain
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning as Storm Austen approaches the UK, bringing high winds up to 80mph. The storm is expected to cause travel disruptions, power cuts, and potential danger to life along coastal regions of south-west England. Additional yellow warnings for wind and heavy rain cover parts of southern England, south Wales, and Scotland.
Why it matters
Severe weather events pose immediate threats to public safety, infrastructure, and national transport networks, requiring timely emergency preparedness.
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock By Ben Rich Lead Weather Presenter Published 21 October 2026, 10:04 BST Updated 2 hours ago The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for strong winds as Storm Austen is forecast to sweep across parts of the UK.
The warning - the second-highest tier that the Met Office issues - is valid for Cornwall and parts of west Devon from 03:00 until 10:00 BST on Friday.
Wind gusts of up to 80mph (130km/h) are expected around exposed coasts, with 60-70mph gusts elsewhere.
Flying debris could lead to injuries or a danger to life, with the risk of power cuts and damage to buildings.
A broader yellow Met Office wind warning covers large swathes of southern England and south Wales with some travel disruption possible.
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