Storm Austen causes travel and power disruption - Storm Boelo to follow
Households face ongoing disruption as Storm Austen's impact continues and a second storm approaches with high winds.
Key points
- Storm Austen caused thousands of power outages and widespread travel disruption, with hundreds of homes remaining without electricity on Saturday.
- A new amber weather warning for Storm Boelo starts Saturday evening, affecting Scotland, the far north of Northern Ireland, Cumbria, and Northumberland.
- Travel operators advise passengers to check for cancellations, as some train lines are scheduled to close early ahead of the new storm.
Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, brought strong winds and heavy rain across the UK on Friday. The weather caused transport cancellations, damage to structures, and left thousands of properties without power.
Disruption is expected to persist through the weekend as Storm Boelo arrives. The Met Office has issued further weather warnings, with forecasts of gale-force winds reaching up to 80mph in exposed coastal areas.
Impact of Storm Austen
Strong winds caused significant disruption, including the collapse of part of Brighton’s West Pier and school closures in Cornwall. Rail and air travel faced widespread delays and cancellations across England, Wales, and Scotland.
National Grid reported that while power was restored to tens of thousands of homes, hundreds remained without electricity on Saturday morning. In some areas, water supply was also affected due to power cuts.
Weather warning for Storm Boelo
An amber warning for wind is in place from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday. This affects much of Scotland, the far north of Northern Ireland, and Cumbria and Northumberland. Residents are warned of potential danger to life from flying debris, power cuts, and building damage.
Rail services in parts of Scotland will face early closures or reduced speeds over the weekend. Passengers are urged to check the status of their journeys before setting out.
What it means for you
- Check travel plans with train and airline operators, as stormy conditions are causing cancellations and timetable changes.
- Prepare for potential power cuts by keeping a torch, spare batteries, and a charged power pack ready for mobile devices.
- The government advises households to keep a supply of food and essential items at home to remain resilient during multi-day emergencies.
- Stay away from exposed coastal areas, where high winds and waves can create dangerous conditions.
Where the reports differ: The National Grid reported more than 31,000 homes were without power in the south-west by mid-afternoon, while other figures indicated over 52,000 properties were restored by the time of reporting.
Sources
We compared these reports before writing and checked every figure, date and name in this story against them. Read them for the full detail.
- BBC News: Storm Austen brings travel disruption and leaves homes without power (23 Oct)
- The Guardian: Thousands of homes without power as Storm Austen hits south-west England (23 Oct)
- BBC News: Second storm to hit UK with up to 80mph gusts as hundreds still without power (24 Oct)
Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected]. This story was written with AI from the reports above and checked against them; it is not financial advice.
