Storm Austen live: ‘Danger to life’ warning to come into effect tonight with 80mph winds to batter UK

Drivers and passengers are being warned that falling trees could pose deadly risks and disrupt their journeys as two storms are set to sweep across the UK, bringing winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain.

The Met Office says there may be flooding, and has issued weather warnings for very strong northwesterly winds, with widespread gusts of 60-70mph in the southwest and some of up to 80mph around exposed headlands.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is expected to affect southwest England on Friday (23 October), with an amber warning for wind issued in Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am.

Over the weekend, Storm Boelo will hit Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England with what the Met Office described as “impactful winds”.

There will be “widespread gusts” of 55-65mph widely, with these reaching up to 70-80mph in more exposed coastal locations, the Met Office added.

Storm Boelo is a separate low pressure system to Storm Austen, which is due to clear into the North Sea by Friday morning.

Jane Dalton22 October 2026 22:00

Storms to hit opposite ends of UK

Chris Bulmer, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Storm Boelo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, impacting the opposite end of the country to Storm Austen.

“Gusts of 70-80mph in exposed coastal areas and high ground are possible, with 50-60mph gusts more widely.

“The strong winds will be accompanied by heavy rain, making for an impactful weekend of weather.

“Severe weather warnings and forecast detail will continue to develop, so people should keep up to date with the forecast over the next few days.”

Jane Dalton22 October 2026 21:20

Winds to hit Scotland and Northern Ireland hard

Yellow weather warnings have been issued for the whole of mainland Scotland, the Western Isles, Orkney and the far north of England from 6pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.

There will be widespread gusts of 55-65mph, reaching up to 70-80mph in more exposed coastal locations, the Met Office said.

A separate yellow warning, covering Northern Ireland from 6pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday, is due to predicted winds of 50-60mph, with up to 65-75mph in exposed regions.

Storm Boelo is a separate low pressure system to Storm Austen, which is due to clear into the North Sea by Friday morning.

Jane Dalton22 October 2026 21:10

Warnings issued as storms to batter UK

The Met Office has issued warnings for wind and rain across parts of the UK, with two named storms due to bring disruption.

Storm Austen is expected to affect southwest England on Friday – with an amber warning for wind issued in Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am.

Very strong north-westerly winds, with gusts of up to 80mph on exposed headlands will be combined with spells of heavy rain, though winds will gradually ease over Friday.

Over the weekend, Storm Boelo will affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England.