Storm Austen hits UK and northwestern France, leaving homes without power

Summary

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, hit the UK and northwestern France on Friday, bringing violent winds, travel disruption and power cuts. The BBC reported that an amber warning is in place as the storm brings powerful winds to south-west England, with disruption to travel likely. The Guardian reported that more than 16,000 homes in the south-west were without power by just before 11am according to National Grid, that dozens of schools in Cornwall were affected, and that a gust of 76mph was recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly. In northwestern France, Euronews reported violent gusts disrupting transport and 161,000 homes losing power. The Guardian also said another storm was heading for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.

Timeline

1. BBC

   23 Oct 2026, 00:08 UTCSource ↗

   BBC reports that an amber warning is in place as Storm Austen, the season's first named storm, brings powerful winds to south-west England on Friday, with disruption to travel likely.

2. Euronews

   23 Oct 2026, 10:46 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that the first major autumn storm, named Austen by UK forecasters, is sweeping across northwestern France, bringing violent gusts, disrupting transport and causing power cuts, with 161,000 homes losing power.

3. The Guardian

   23 Oct 2026, 12:08 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that thousands of homes are without power and schools have been closed as Storm Austen hits south-west England, with more than 16,000 homes without power just before 11am according to National Grid and a gust of 76mph recorded at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly.