Thousands without power and travel disruption as Storm Austen batters southern UK — SkimNews
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- Storm Austen brought gusts up to 84mph to Jersey and southern UK, knocking out power for more than 19,000 homes and disrupting rail and road networks with fallen trees.
- Brighton's West Pier partially collapsed into the sea during the storm, with eyewitnesses describing enormous waves and shock at the extent of the damage to the historic structure.
- The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland as Storm Boelo follows Austen, forecasting gusts up to 80mph and heavy rain.
- Ferry services between the UK and France were cancelled due to the storm, contributing to fresh food shortages on the Channel Islands, where the Co-op boss warned of rare and severe disruption.
- Jersey and Guernsey closed all schools for the day, with officials recording wind gusts up to 76mph and residents reporting homes rattling from the force of the storm.
- The UK government advised households to stockpile three days' worth of tinned food and bottled water for emergencies, citing risks from natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and climate threats.
Why it matters: Over 19,000 homes lost power and critical infrastructure like rail and ferry routes were suspended, while the collapse of part of Brighton’s West Pier underscores the vulnerability of coastal landmarks. The government’s emergency preparedness guidance gains urgency as back-to-back storms expose gaps in resilience.
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