Story perspectives

Storm Austen leaves 6,000 Cornwall homes without power

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 9:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Storm Austen leaves more than 6,000 homes without power in Cornwall, UK.
More than 80 schools in Cornwall close or open later because of Storm Austen.
All schools in Jersey and Guernsey close for the day as the storm hits.
Wind gusts reach up to 80 mph in south-west England, with 60-70 mph winds across the region.
The National Grid reports power cuts and fallen-tree road closures affect several routes in Cornwall.

History

Historical Context

The Great Storm of 15-16 October 1987 smashed southern England with 115 mph gusts, felled about 15 million trees and left thousands without power, prompting the Met Office to overhaul observations, models and warning procedures. Today’s Storm Austen, bringing 80 mph gusts to Cornwall and school closures on the Channel Islands, echoes that legacy, underscoring the need for the upgraded warning system.

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Story summary

Storm Austen leaves more than 6,000 homes without power in Cornwall, UK.
More than 80 schools in Cornwall close or open later because of Storm Austen.
All schools in Jersey and Guernsey close for the day as the storm hits.
Wind gusts reach up to 80 mph in south-west England, with 60-70 mph winds across the region.
The National Grid reports power cuts and fallen-tree road closures affect several routes in Cornwall.

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