Storm Austen has brought gusts of up to 76mph to the UK, with the strongest winds recorded across the Isles of Scilly, southwest England, Wales and exposed parts of the south coast.
Observations covering midnight to midday on Friday 23 October show a maximum gust of 76mph at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly. Gusts reached 75mph at the Isle of Portland in Dorset and Needles Old Battery on the Isle of Wight, while Aberporth in west Wales recorded 74mph.
Where have the strongest Storm Austen wind gusts been recorded?
The highest gusts were concentrated around exposed coasts and higher ground across southern and western Britain.
Behind the leading observations, Culdrose in Cornwall recorded 71mph, Aberdaron in Gwynedd reached 70mph and Cardinham, near Bodmin, recorded 69mph. Camborne reached 68mph, while a gust of 67mph was observed at Capel Curig in north Wales.
Gusts of 60mph were recorded at Castlemartin Warren in Pembrokeshire, with Plymouth Mountbatten, Milford Haven and Merryfield in Somerset all reaching 59mph. Farther east, Langdon Bay in Kent recorded 56mph.
The distribution of the strongest gusts reflects the track of Storm Austen close to southern Britain. As the deep area of low pressure approached southwest England, it was beginning to mature before moving close to the south coast and then towards continental northwest Europe.
How unusual are Storm Austen’s strongest winds?
Although Storm Austen has produced disruptive winds, the observations available so far remain well below the highest October gusts recorded in the UK.
The highest October gust listed in existing records is 124mph at Rhoose, in the Vale of Glamorgan, on 28 October 1989. Other notable October observations include 115mph at Shoreham in West Sussex on 16 October 1987 and 106mph at Salsburgh in Lanarkshire on 18 October 1984.
There is also local context at Needles Old Battery. The site recorded 75mph during Storm Austen but holds England’s all-time maximum gust record of 122mph, set during Storm Eunice on 18 February 2022.
The wider UK records underline how exceptional the most extreme wind events can be. The record for Scotland and the UK as whole is 142mph at Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire on 13 February 1989. The Northern Ireland record is 124mph at Kilkeel in County Down, while the Welsh record is the 124mph gust measured at Rhoose in October 1989.
These comparisons do not reduce the potential impacts of Austen. Even gusts well below national records can bring disruption, particularly where winds affect exposed coasts, transport routes, trees and power infrastructure.
What impacts has Storm Austen caused?
Storm Austen brought disruption to transport, particularly in parts of southwest England. Ferry, rail and flight services were affected, numerous trees were brought down and several thousand homes and businesses lost power.
Amber and yellow warnings for wind were issued ahead of the storm. An amber warning covered Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and west Devon between 3am and 10am on Friday, within a broader yellow warning area across southern Britain.
The storm developed rapidly over the Atlantic as it interacted with a strong jet stream. Austen intensified most quickly to the southwest of the British Isles before reaching maturity near the UK, creating a tight pressure gradient and a period of strong winds across southern and western areas.
What happens after Storm Austen?
Storm Austen will continue moving eastwards during Friday, allowing winds to ease across many western areas. However, the quieter interval will be brief, with Storm Boelo expected to bring a wet and windy weekend to much of the UK, with the strongest winds expected across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.
Gusts of 60 to 70 mph are possible, with potentially higher speeds in exposed locations. Heavy rain will spread eastwards during Saturday, followed by further rain and strong winds in northern areas on Sunday. Although southern England and Wales should become drier, it will remain blustery and feel chilly across the country.
READ MORE:
How to find wind and gust information in the Met Office app
What does it take for a storm to be named?
Week ahead: First named storm of the season set to arrive on Friday
Weather bombs: What causes explosive cyclogenesis?
Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.
