Storm Austen brings power cuts and travel disruption as more wind and rain forecast
Storm Austen has caused significant power outages and travel disruptions across southern England and Wales. The storm, which is the first of the season, also caused a section of Brighton's historic West Pier to collapse into the sea.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting infrastructure and public safety, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal regions to climate-related storms.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Choppy seas led to a dramatic display at Newhaven, East Sussex
More than 15,000 homes are without power as Storm Austen continues to batter southern England and Wales, with more bad weather expected this weekend.
The first named storm of the season brought gusts of up to 84mph (135km/h) to Jersey, while in southern England the wild weather disrupted travel with fallen trees blocking railway lines and roads.
In Brighton, part of the iconic West Pier - an abandoned structure that first opened in 1866 - collapsed into the sea.
On Saturday, Storm Boelo is forecast to bring more strong winds and heavy rain. The Met Office has put in place an amber warning for wind on Saturday and Sunday to cover parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.
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