UK Issues Amber Wind Warning for Cornwall as Storm Austen Nears
The UK's national weather service, the Met Office, issued an Amber wind warning at 10:47 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, covering the whole of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of West Devon, in southwest England, ahead of Storm Austen. The agency said the warning area could see gusts of 60–70 mph for a time, combined with heavy rain, as the storm crosses southern Britain.
The storm is forecast to move across southern Britain late Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, and during Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, morning, the Met Office said. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: "Storm Austen is expected to bring a spell of impactful weather to parts of the UK from Thursday night and through Friday. While there remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm, there is increasing confidence in the potential for disruptive winds across parts of southwest England, which is why an Amber warning has been issued."
A wider Yellow wind warning already covers a larger area of southern Britain and has been updated as confidence in the storm's track and strength grows, the Met Office said.
Storm Austen had already brought an Orange wind warning for Brittany and Normandy, in northwestern France, before its track shifted toward southern Britain.
RNLI Water Safety Manager Ross Macleod said: "Storm Austen is set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we're asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks. If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea."
