Overview
- The Met Office has put a yellow wind warning in place from midnight to noon on Friday 23 October covering large parts of southern England and Wales.
- Forecasters say widespread gusts of 50–60 mph are likely and exposed coastal locations could see gusts above 70 mph, creating a small chance of structural damage and injuries.
- Periods of heavy rain will accompany the strong winds and are expected to make road, rail, air and ferry travel more difficult with a risk of power cuts.
- Some outlets are reporting the system as the season’s first named storm, Storm Austen, but the Met Office stresses the track and impacts remain uncertain and warnings are under review.
- People are urged to secure loose items, check travel information, avoid the coast during high waves, prepare emergency supplies, and follow updates because computer models still disagree on where the worst conditions will occur.