Thousands without power and travel disruption as Storm Austen batters southern UK

Storm Austen has left more than 19,000 homes without power across southern England and Wales, while strong winds and flooding disrupted roads, rail and ferry services. The storm also brought down part of Brighton’s historic West Pier, and further severe weather is forecast as Storm Boelo follows.

Austen brought gusts of up to 84mph in Jersey, where schools closed, flights were suspended and ferry cancellations raised concerns about fresh food supplies. Around 13,000 properties in the south-west lost power, and a holiday park in Cornwall evacuated families. For Saturday and Sunday, the Met Office warned of winds reaching 60–70mph in affected areas, with exposed coasts potentially seeing 80mph gusts, alongside heavy rain and localised flood risks.