Storm Austen strikes France UK and Ireland with severe wind and rain

Storm Austen battered coastal areas of France, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on Friday, October 23, bringing severe winds, heavy rainfall, and large waves. Euronews and the BBC reported that wind gusts reached 160 km/h in Brittany and up to 84 mph in the south-west of England. [1][2][6]

The storm uprooted trees, damaged boats, and blocked roads across southern England. Thousands of homes lost electricity in south-west England, according to reports from the BBC and The Telegraph. Sky News added that the storm caused widespread flight disruptions and road blockages across the country. [1][2][3][4][6]

In Ireland, the storm brought heavy rain to eastern and southeastern counties, as reported by theliberal.ie. Status Orange warnings were active earlier in the day for Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow, and Cork before the weather began to improve by the afternoon. [5][7]

Storm Austen is the first named storm of the 2026 to 2027 European windstorm season. As FTMQ News reported earlier, forecasters had previously issued severe weather warnings across the regions ahead of the storm's arrival. [1][8][11]

A second storm, named Storm Boelo, is approaching. Sky News reported that a new danger to life weather warning has been issued, while Ireland and the UK prepare for further rain and strong wind gusts. [3][10]