Storm Austen Leaves Nearly 7,000 UK Homes Without Power

Storm Austen Leaves Nearly 7,000 UK Homes Without Power

Nearly 7,000 homes have been left without electricity as Storm Austen brings powerful winds and heavy rain to parts of the United Kingdom, disrupting transport services and forcing some schools to close or delay opening. The storm struck south-west England overnight into Friday, October 23, with Cornwall and Devon among the areas worst affected. National Grid reported that 6,980 homes in Cornwall were without power, while additional outages were recorded in Devon.The UK Met Office issued an amber warning for strong winds across Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly, forecasting gusts of up to 80mph in exposed locations. The severe conditions raised the risk of falling trees, damaged buildings, flying debris and further power cuts.Transport services have also been disrupted. Great Western Railway introduced speed restrictions on routes between Devon and Cornwall, while some train services were cancelled or altered. Flights at Exeter Airport were affected, and Loganair cancelled several flights because of the weather. Fallen trees and debris have created additional hazards on roads, prompting local authorities to advise motorists to exercise caution and postpone non-essential journeys during the strongest winds. Some schools in Cornwall delayed opening or temporarily closed to protect pupils and staff travelling during the storm. The disruption comes as forecasters warn that another storm, named Boelo, is expected to affect parts of the UK over the weekend, bringing further strong winds and heavy rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Authorities have urged residents to follow official weather warnings, check travel updates before setting out and prepare for possible further power interruptions as emergency and utility teams respond to the damage.