Storm Austen to bring 70mph winds to South West

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Storm Austen is expected to bring winds of up to 70mph to Cornwall and Devon on Friday, with some exposed areas seeing gusts around 80mph.

Storm Austen is expected to bring very strong north-westerly winds and heavy rain to the South West on Friday. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for the whole of Cornwall and parts of Devon near the border, including Plymouth, from 3am until 10am on Friday. A yellow warning covers a wider area across southern England and Wales. Gusts of 60 to 70 mph are expected to develop widely, with perhaps some gusts around 80 mph for exposed headlands and coastal locations. The forecaster says very strong winds will be combined with spells of heavy rain, with winds remaining strong for the rest of Friday but gradually easing.

The Met Office warns of long journey times and public transport cancellations. Road, rail, air and ferry services could be affected, and some roads and bridges may be forced to close. There is a risk of flying debris and danger to life. Forecasters say there will probably be damage to buildings, including roof tiles being blown off, and power cuts are possible, along with disruption to mobile phone coverage.

Coastal areas face particular hazard. The Met Office warns that injuries and danger to life are likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties. Residents near the coast have been advised to take extra care. Storm Austen is the first named storm of the season.

How it is being reported

• Storm Austen alert amps up as Cornwall and Devon hit with amber weather warningThe Met Office warns 'danger to life is likely'CornwallLive · 21 Oct, 10:27
• Cornwall faces Storm Austen warning as winds could top 70mphCornwall is set to be battered by Storm Austen later this week as the Met Office warns of winds exceeding 70mph, travel disruption and dangerous seas.Falmouth Packet · 21 Oct, 09:59
• Cornwall weather warning issued as 70mph winds could hit countyCornwall is set to be hit by strong winds later this week, with forecasters warning of travel disruption, power cuts and hazardous coastal conditions.Falmouth Packet · 19 Oct, 11:18

In this story: Storm Austen · Cornwall · Devon · Met Office · Plymouth

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