Storm Austen brings 70mph gusts and rail disruption to South West England

The Met Office named Storm Austen on Tuesday 20 October, warning that gusts in excess of 70mph were possible on the most exposed coasts as a deepening area of low pressure swept in from the Atlantic, according to the North Devon Gazette [1]. A yellow warning for wind was issued covering southern parts of England and south Wales for Friday 23 October, highlighting the chance of travel disruption, power cuts and injuries from flying debris, the Gazette reported [1]. Tom Crabtree, the Met Office's Deputy Chief Forecaster, said the storm's exact track was still being determined when it was named, but that the risk of disruption was already clear. "While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what's clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named," he said, according to [1]. He added that peak gusts in excess of 70mph were possible on the most exposed coastal areas, with 50-60mph likely more widely within the warning area, and said the forecast could be updated as confidence increased [1]. The Met Office said the low-pressure system, forming in the Atlantic, would "rapidly deepen" as it was invigorated by the jet stream, according to [1]. After spells of rain and showers on Tuesday and Wednesday, the focus was expected to shift to the South West late on Thursday as the storm began its approach, before moving west to east through Friday with winds generally diminishing later in the day, the report said [1]. Rain was flagged 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, according to the Met Office as reported by the Gazette [1]. UK Weather Chase, a group of storm chasers who track developing weather systems, issued its own Storm Watch on Saturday 17 October, three days before the Met Office named the storm, the Gazette reported [1]. Sam Whitfield, a Field Weather Expert with the group, said signs of the system first appeared on Thursday 15 October, but cautioned that forecasts several days out can change significantly in track and intensity [1]. He said it became "increasingly clear by Saturday that there was growing agreement on a significant low-pressure system moving towards the UK", prompting the group to issue its Storm Watch [1]. Asked which parts of the South West looked most at risk, Whitfield said it was too early to give a firm answer, though he suggested Cornwall, particularly the west coast and other exposed areas, could see some of the most significant impacts, with the risk to Devon depending on how the system developed [1]. He also said coastal communities could be particularly vulnerable if high tides and large waves coincided with the strongest winds, raising the potential for coastal overtopping [1]. Great Western Railway and Network Rail had been contacted by the Gazette regarding their preparations for the storm, according to the report [1]; their responses were not included in the material.