Amber warning in place as Storm Austen hits parts of UK
An amber Met Office warning is in force as Storm Austen brings 70mph gusts to south-west England, closing schools, cancelling trains and disrupting ferries.
Storm Austen is battering parts of the UK with powerful winds and heavy rain, triggering an amber weather warning from the Met Office.
The amber warning covers Cornwall and parts of Devon and is in force until 10:00 BST on Friday. Gusts of 60 to 70mph are expected across the region, reaching 80mph in exposed coastal spots, as the season's first named storm moves through.
Forecasters warn that winds of that strength will bring down some trees and pose a significant risk of travel disruption. Several schools in the worst-hit areas have closed, with others opening later so pupils can avoid the worst of the conditions. Train operators warn of cancellations and speed restrictions because of the danger of fallen branches, while some ferry sailings have been cancelled, including crossings between Pembrokeshire and Ireland.
Yellow wind warnings are also in force across most of England and Wales, where gusts of 45 to 60mph are forecast more widely, reaching 70mph in some places. The Channel Islands are braced for severe gales of up to 80mph, and every school in Jersey has been told to shut on Friday. Heavy rain in Scotland may cause localised flooding, with 20 to 40mm expected in parts of the country.
Close behind Austen comes Storm Boelo, named by the Met Office on Thursday. It is expected to bring wet and windy weather to the whole of the UK on Saturday, with further travel disruption and possible power cuts.
Source: BBC News — Top Stories — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.