Amber warning issued as Storm Austen approaches
The Met Office expects strong winds and heavy rain across parts of southern Britain from Thursday night.
Updates
The amber warning was in force on Friday morning, with the Met Office warning of possible disruption, power cuts, flying debris and danger to life from large waves and beach material. A wider yellow warning also covered parts of southern Britain. (Met Office, Devon County Council)
The Met Office said the amber warning included a risk to life from large waves and beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties. (Met Office)
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An amber wind warning has been issued for Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of West Devon as Storm Austen approaches. The Met Office said the storm could bring very strong winds and heavy rain across southern parts of the UK from late Thursday into Friday.
The warning was issued by the Met Office on Wednesday for a period when the strongest winds are expected in south-west England. The affected area includes the whole of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of West Devon.
A wider yellow wind warning covers a larger area of southern England and south Wales. The Met Office said the storm was expected to move across southern Britain late on Thursday and during Friday morning, with the greatest risk of disruption in southern and south-western areas.
Heavy rain is also expected in some locations. A separate yellow rain warning has been issued for parts of southern and eastern Scotland for Friday, reflecting the fact that the storm’s effects will extend beyond the amber-warning area.
The weather service has warned that strong winds may disrupt travel, damage infrastructure and leave some communities temporarily without power. Those are forecast risks rather than reports of damage already occurring, and the precise path and intensity of the storm may still change.
The Met Office said the amber warning represented a risk of impactful weather rather than a guarantee that every location within the zone would experience severe conditions. Councils, transport operators and emergency services are expected to use the warning period to review preparations and communicate local advice.
For the public, the main significance is timing: the most disruptive conditions are forecast from Thursday night into Friday. Conditions can vary sharply over short distances during storms, particularly near exposed coasts and higher ground, so local warnings may change as the system develops.
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Fact-check Approved · Priya Shah — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article accurately distinguishes current warnings from forecast impacts. The geographical areas and timing match the Met Office announcement.
Editor's note
The amber warning, affected areas and forecast timing are confirmed by the Met Office. Reports of disruption are presented as risks, not as completed events.Sources
- Amber warning issued as Storm Austen approaches — Met Office
- Road users urged to take care as Storm Austen approaches — Devon County Council
More on this in other media
- iNews — „storm austen”
- BBC News — „storm austen”
- The Guardian — „storm austen”