Storm Austen named by Met Office

newsOct 20, 20262776

The Met Office has named Storm Austen, forecasting disruptive wind and heavy rain for parts of the UK from late Thursday into Friday. An Atlantic low is expected to rapidly deepen as it is invigorated by the jet stream, with focus shifting to the southwest of the UK late Thursday. A Yellow Warning for wind covers southern England and south Wales, warning of travel disruption, power cuts and a chance of injuries from debris. The Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said peak gusts in excess of 70 mph are possible on exposed coasts and 50 to 60 mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Rain is an additional hazard, with 20 to 30 mm likely in many places and higher totals on higher ground in the west and further north on Friday. Storm Austen will move west to east through Friday with winds generally easing later in the day, though its influence will wane only late on Friday and further periods of wind and rain are likely through the weekend and into early next week.

Met Office - weather and climate

@metoffice.gov.uk

Storm Austen has been named by the Met Office bringing disruptive wind and rain from late Thursday and into Friday. Read our full news release here➡️ www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...

Met Office press release graphic announcing “Storm Austen named”, dated 20 October 2026, over an image of rough seas beneath dark storm clouds.

172h ago

Jalata11

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single storm in possession of a good headwind, must be in want of a landfall.

James Steel1

First named storm of the season, good luck everyone.

Tiredrich1

When the winds pick up on Friday

Quoting this

Plashing Vole38

Marianne: time for a walk! *unbuttons bodice* Mrs Bennet: everybody outside. Who knows how many eligible young men might be lurking under trees waiting to rescue you?

New-Cleckit Dominie19

Colonel Brandon has donned his flannel waistcoat. Mr Woodhouse has gleefully cancelled every engagement for the next six months. Catherine Morland is looking for a scenic ruin in which to be scared of the lightning. Fanny Price has taken no precautions because nothing could make her any wetter.

JoJo19

HERE WE GO FUCKING GO #floodseason

Peter Smith8

It is a truth universally acknowledged that it's going to piss it down at the end of this week.

Verity Holloway8

When you're a bookish teenage girl and the faculty want you to read something gender-appropriate for a change.

DismalChips DIED FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS VERY NIGHT5

Named after Jane Austen's pit bull terrier.

Den of Scholes4

I see Colonel Windbag and Lady Fanny Drizzle will be walking amongst the heath later in the week.

Leftback3

*sound of smashing glass* Bah gawd!

Martin Emmerson3

We're three away from Storm Decka!

S. Reeson / Experimental Poet2

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single storm in possession of disruptive wind and rain must be in want of the correct name....

Carlow Weather

@carlowweather.bsky.social

The UK Met Office has named #StormAusten for Thursday into Friday. Yellow warnings are issued for Ireland at present. More later.

202h ago

Quoting this

Cosgrove_Outdoors6

Was sat next to Jimmy and Jenny from Economy, Indiana…population 825 (yes, they told me)…travelling to Ireland on their honeymoon. Her 2nd ever flight and his 1st. They brought rain jackets. I hope they find a cosy pub to sit in in Galway and skull Irish Coffee’s like I hinted.

Netweather

@netweather.tv

#StormAusten has been named by the UK Met Office - arriving late Thursday and into Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain with it.

42h ago

Jooooohhhh No!

@josefoshea.bsky.social

How do you know it's nearly time for the Cork Jazz Festival❓Well, it is a truth, universally acknowleged, that the weather is always shite #StormAusten

82h ago

The Journal

@thejournal.ie

Storm Austen: Status Yellow rain warning for Ireland on Thursday for first named storm of the season jrnl.ie/7198982

32h ago

Oldham Weather

@chadweather.bsky.social

Still looking very windy for western Wales/SW/S England with possible disruption later this week, Thursday night and into Friday. Named-storm likely. #StormAusten

55h ago

BritWeatherSvs/Jim N R Dale

@britweathersvs.bsky.social

Yet to be named “Storm Austen” the first storm system of the season, is set to bowl through the M4 corridor & across London on Friday morning. It’s about time the Met Office got their act together & actually named it so people can best prepare.

25h ago

Gravekeeper Failure 🪦

@ptrtlrwrts.bsky.social

"Storm Cold Steve Austen just opened a can of northerly whoop-ass on Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Surrey! STORM COLD! STORM COLD! STORM COLD!"

32h ago

GrumpyGirdle 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿〓〓🇪🇺🇫🇷🇺🇦🇵🇸🐈‍⬛🐾📚🌊☮️

@grumpygirdle.bsky.social

Storm Austen? What did Jane ever do to deserve that!

42h ago

The Flood Hub People

@thefloodhubpeople.bsky.social

The Met Office has announced the first named storm of the season, #StormAusten. Forecast to affect southern England and south Wales from Thursday - Friday, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and travel disruption. Sign up for flood warnings at thefloodhub.co.uk/am-i-at-risk/#section-4