Storm Austen has caused significant disruption across southern England and Wales, leaving over 15,000 homes without power and leading to travel delays due to fallen trees blocking roads and railway lines. The storm brought gusts up to 84mph in Jersey and caused part of Brighton's historic West Pier to collapse into the sea. Schools on Jersey and Guernsey were closed, and some in Cornwall delayed opening. Ferry services between the UK and France were cancelled, contributing to expected fresh food shortages in the Channel Islands.
The National Grid has restored power to more than 60,000 properties since the storm began. As Storm Austen moves eastwards, the Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for parts of Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland ahead of Storm Boelo, which is forecast to bring further strong winds and heavy rain over the weekend. Wind gusts of up to 80mph could cause additional power outages and travel disruptions.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.