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Met Office issues yellow warning for Storm Austen winds

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 4:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for Storm Austen, forecasting gusts up to 80 mph across the United Kingdom.
South West England faces the strongest winds, with gusts of 60-70 mph and up to 80 mph on exposed coasts.
An amber warning notes possible power cuts, mobile-phone outages, and flying-debris hazards.
Network Rail Scotland imposed speed restrictions on major lines Friday and expects further limits Saturday-Sunday as Storm Boelo arrives.

History

Historical Context

On 15-16 October 1987 a 115 mph gust hit Shoreham-by-Sea during the Great Storm, killing 22 people and prompting harsh criticism of the Met Office. The agency’s 1990 launch of the National Severe Weather Warning Service cut missed warnings by 30 %. Today the Met Office’s yellow alert for Storm Austen and amber alert for Storm Boelo lead Network Rail to curb train speeds.

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Story summary

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for Storm Austen, forecasting gusts up to 80 mph across the United Kingdom.
South West England faces the strongest winds, with gusts of 60-70 mph and up to 80 mph on exposed coasts.
An amber warning notes possible power cuts, mobile-phone outages, and flying-debris hazards.
Network Rail Scotland imposed speed restrictions on major lines Friday and expects further limits Saturday-Sunday as Storm Boelo arrives.

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