Storm Austen brings power cuts and travel disruption as more wind and rain forecast — SkimNews
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- Storm Austen left more than 10,000 homes without power and caused travel disruption with fallen trees blocking roads and railways, while gusts reached 84mph in Jersey.
- The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for parts of Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland from Saturday evening, forecasting gusts of 60-80mph from the incoming Storm Boelo.
- In Brighton, a section of the historic West Pier collapsed into the sea as the structure was battered by large waves.
- The National Grid restored power to over 60,000 properties, but warned that strong winds this weekend could cause further power cuts.
- Ferry services between the UK and France were cancelled, and Jersey Airport suspended all flights until at least 17:00 BST due to the severe conditions.
- The UK government released general advice for households to stockpile three days' worth of tinned food and bottled water to prepare for emergencies.
Why it matters: The immediate consequence is significant disruption for residents and travelers, with a second storm compounding the damage. The government's simultaneous emergency stockpiling advice directly links the severe weather to broader national resilience concerns, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.
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