This story has moved on: Met Office issues amber warning as Storm Austen hits UK

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 18:58 · Archive

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the UK and Ireland.

Storm Austen is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to south-west England and southern and eastern Ireland. The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am on Friday, with winds expected to reach 90mph. Met Éireann has placed Status Orange rain warnings on Cork, Kerry and Waterford, with the worst of the storm expected overnight on Thursday. The system will then move east, affecting Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow on Friday morning.

Rebecca Cantwell, a meteorologist at Met Éireann, warned of significant impacts. 'We are expecting a good drop of rain. It's going to be wet and it's going to be windy,' she said. She forecast potential tree uprooting and surface flooding, with the ground becoming saturated by rain. The Mirror reports that flooding is feared in the next 48 hours, with particular concern for the South Devon coast.

Several events have already been affected. The Dublin Marathon and Cork Jazz Festival are expected to be impacted by the yellow wind warning in place across Leinster and Munster. Friday's meeting at Newbury racecourse has been cancelled, parts of the Eastbourne seafront promenade have closed, and all schools in the Channel Islands have been ordered to close on Friday. As Storm Austen clears, Met Éireann says another storm, Boelo, will quickly follow, approaching from the north-west.

How it is being reported

• Satellite image shows Storm Austen sweeping towards UK as Met Office issues ‘danger to life’ warningAn amber “danger to life” warning has been issued by the Met Office with people urged to stay away from cliff edges and from stormy seasThe Independent · 22 Oct, 18:50
• Storm Austen watch live: Webcams from around UK to show horror 90mph winds smash BritainStorm Austen is the first named storm of the UK season and is expected to bring very strong winds, heavy rain, and coastal gales from tonight with some schools closed on FridayThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 18:44
• Whole island of Ireland to be hit by first two storms of the yearStorm Austen will bring heavy winds and rain to the south-east of Ireland on Thursday and Friday, before Storm Boelo hits.Evening Standard · 22 Oct, 17:04

In this story: Storm Austen · Storm Boelo · Ireland · UK · Rebecca Cantwell · Met Éireann · Met Office

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