The first named storm of the season, Austen, is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 60mph to southern regions of the UK as the week draws to a close, according to meteorologists.
While Tuesday and Wednesday will bring spells of rain and showers for many areas, the Met Office noted that Storm Austen will approach the south-west of the UK by Thursday. The system stems from an area of low pressure in the Atlantic that is set to deepen rapidly after being energized by the jet stream.
A storm receives a name in the UK when it carries the potential to cause significant disruption or damage that might trigger an amber or red warning. Consequently, the Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning for strong winds running from midnight until midday on Friday, encompassing most of south-west England and southern Wales, along with parts of the south coast stretching as far east as Brighton.
Tom Crabtree, the Met Office deputy chief forecaster, explained that while the precise track and positioning of Storm Austen are still being finalized, an impactful period of weather is definitely approaching with the potential for localized disruption.
Crabtree noted that peak gusts exceeding 70mph could strike the most exposed coastal locations, while winds of 50mph to 60mph are likely to be felt more widely across the warning zone. He added that weather warnings remain under constant review and may be updated as forecasting confidence increases.
As Friday progresses, Storm Austen is projected to track from west to east before its winds begin to subside later in the day. Accumulations of 20mm to 30mm of rain are anticipated in numerous locations.
Although the storm is expected to push out into the North Sea late on Friday, further wind and rain will likely persist throughout the weekend and into the beginning of next week, with western regions facing the heaviest downpours.