Storm Austen: Amber Wind Warning for South West England as Met Office Warns of 80mph Gusts

The Met Office has named Storm Austen and issued an amber weather warning for wind covering the far south-west of England, in place from 3am to 10am on Friday, according to [1]. The forecaster said a spell of very strong northwesterly winds is likely on Friday morning, with a good chance that gusts of 60-70mph will develop widely for a time, and the potential for gusts around 80mph on exposed headlands, according to [1]. The amber warning states that very strong winds will combine with spells of heavy rain, with windy conditions persisting through the rest of Friday before gradually easing. A separate yellow weather warning for wind is already in place covering Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and Plymouth, alongside 35 further areas across Wales and the south coast, according to [1]. The yellow warning runs from midnight to 2pm on Friday, with forecasters saying affected areas could see gusts of 50-60mph, rising to 70mph or more in some coastal or exposed locations. The Met Office warned that flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life, according to [1]. It also said there is a good chance of power cuts, which could affect other services including mobile phone coverage. Injuries and danger to life are also likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties, the forecaster said. People in the affected areas should expect longer journey times and cancellations across road, rail, air and ferry services, along with damage to buildings and some road and bridge closures, according to [1]. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said the exact track and position of Storm Austen was still being determined, but that an impactful period of weather was on the way with the potential for disruption in places, which had resulted in the system being named, according to [1]. Crabtree said peak gusts in excess of 70mph were possible on the most exposed coastal areas, with 50-60mph likely more widely within the warning area. He added that weather warnings were under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases. According to [1], Storm Austen is expected to move from west to east through Friday, with winds generally diminishing later in the day. Rain is described as an additional hazard, with 20-30mm expected in many places and higher totals possible over higher ground in the west and further north on Friday.