Met Office warns of first named storm of season as Storm Austen looms for Friday

The UK could see its first named storm of the autumn this week, with the Met Office issuing a yellow severe weather warning for Friday covering south-west Wales and south-west England, stretching along the coast towards West Sussex, according to the BBC [2]. If forecasters judge the low pressure system will bring significant disruption, it will be named Storm Austen, according to the Sun [1]. The warning runs from midnight to midday on Friday, with winds likely to strengthen to gusts of 50-60mph widely and up to 70mph in the most exposed locations, the BBC reported [2]. The Met Office said the system could bring travel disruption, damage to buildings and a small risk of power cuts, according to the BBC [2]. The exact track of the low pressure system remains uncertain, both outlets reported. Most computer models currently take the centre of the system across southern areas of the UK, meaning the highest risk of disruptive winds would fall on the southernmost parts of England and Wales and possibly some eastern coastal counties of England, according to the BBC [2]. However, some models show a more northerly track, which would bring gales and disruption more widely, including to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the BBC said [2]. There is also a chance the system could track further south, in which case the worst of the weather would hit France rather than the UK, with the French weather service, MeteoFrance, potentially naming it Storm Bruna, according to both the Sun [1] and the BBC [2]. Before the potential storm arrives, the week will bring a build-up of wet and windy weather, according to both reports. Rain was forecast to spread across much of England and east Wales on Tuesday before reaching Scotland later in the day, with further rain expected on Wednesday across many parts of the UK, the BBC said [2]. Gales and heavy downpours were possible towards the end of the week, according to the Sun [1]. The unsettled weather follows a comparatively dry autumn across large parts of England and Wales, the Sun reported [1]. Parts of Herefordshire had received just a tenth of the rainfall normally expected by this point in October, and the Environment Agency has declared a severe drought in parts of southern England, according to the Sun [1]. The BBC said the whole of the UK would see rain at times this week, including areas currently in drought, though the amounts would depend on the storm's exact track [2]. The wet weather follows a sharp drop in temperatures over the weekend, with all four UK nations recording their lowest temperatures of the autumn so far, according to the Sun [1]. Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland fell to minus 4C on Sunday morning, while northern England recorded minus 2C, the Sun reported [1]. Temperatures were expected to remain slightly below average for mid-October as the unsettled conditions continue, according to the Sun [1]. The BBC said developments later in the week would also shape conditions into the following week, with some computer models showing further stormy weather while others suggest quieter conditions could develop under high pressure [2]. Both outlets advised keeping track of updates to Met Office warnings as the forecast develops [1][2].