Met Office issues danger to life warnings as Storm Austen hits UK
The Met Office has issued an amber danger to life warning for 108 areas as Storm Austen brings 80mph winds, with Storm Boelo set to follow and yellow warnings covering Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.
The Met Office has issued an amber «danger to life» warning covering 108 areas as Storm Austen brings winds of up to 80mph to parts of the UK this evening. Forecasters are urging people to stay away from cliff edges and stormy seas as the first named storm of the season makes landfall.
The amber warning is in force for coastal and exposed areas, where flying debris and large waves pose a risk to life. Heavy rain accompanying the storm could also lead to flooding in some areas before conditions ease. The Met Office has advised households to prepare emergency kits and to check on vulnerable neighbours.
Scotland is facing its own separate yellow warning for rain, covering parts of the north-east, the central belt and the south of the country. The alert comes as the Met Office named its second storm of the season, Storm Boelo, with yellow weather warnings in place for 53 areas across Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. Boelo is expected to bring further strong winds, with gusts of up to 80mph possible in exposed locations.
The back-to-back storms mark an unsettled start to the autumn weather season, with the Met Office naming storms in quick succession as low-pressure systems track across the Atlantic. Storm Austen is the first named storm of the season, and its arrival has prompted warnings across a wide swathe of the country.
Satellite imagery showed Storm Austen sweeping towards the UK earlier in the day, with the Met Office issuing the amber warning ahead of its arrival. The warning covers a large number of areas, reflecting the breadth of the storm's expected impact.
People in affected areas have been urged to take precautions, including securing loose outdoor items and avoiding travel on exposed routes during the worst of the winds. The Met Office said the danger to life warning should be taken seriously, particularly along coastlines where large waves could sweep people out to sea.
Storm Boelo is expected to follow closely behind, with yellow warnings already in place for 53 areas across Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. The Met Office has named its second storm of the season as the low-pressure system develops, and further warnings may be issued as the situation develops.
Households in Scotland have been advised to prepare emergency kits, including torches, batteries and essential supplies, in case of power cuts and travel disruption. The Met Office has also urged people to check the latest forecasts and warnings before travelling.
The amber warning remains in force this evening, with conditions expected to improve overnight before Storm Boelo arrives. The Met Office is continuing to monitor the situation and will update its warnings as necessary.
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