Storm Austen Leaves 15,000 Homes Without Power — SkimNews
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- Storm Austen made landfall in the south-west overnight and tracked east, bringing gusts up to 84mph (135km/h) to Jersey and 76mph (122km/h) in Guernsey; all schools on both islands closed for the day.
- National Grid said engineers had restored power to more than 60,000 properties since Austen began, while more than 15,000 homes remained without electricity as the storm continued.
- National Rail advised that many routes were travelling at slower speeds after fallen trees blocked lines, while train operators across the country warned that services were likely to be disrupted over the weekend.
- Jersey Airport said flights would not run until at least 17:00, while Exeter airport showed multiple cancellations and some ferry services between the UK and France were cancelled.
- West Pier in Brighton lost a section to the sea after waves hit the structure; closed to the public since 1975, its ruins had become a symbol of the city for some.
- Met Office issued amber wind warnings for Saturday and Sunday over parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, forecasting 60-70mph gusts, up to 80mph on exposed coasts, persistent heavy rain and localized flooding.
- Co-op chief Mark Cox said fresh-food shortages were expected on the Channel Islands in coming days because ferry services were lacking, describing storms as backing up quickly and the disruption as heavier than in the past.
Why it matters: For the 15,000 households still without power and Channel Island residents, the disruption is already tangible: National Grid has restored 60,000 properties, while Co-op's Mark Cox expects fresh-food shortages from reduced ferry service. The Met Office's amber weekend warnings accompany forecasts of further power cuts and travel disruption.
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