World · Europe · 7 hrs ago
Storm Austen brings warnings for Ireland, the UK and France
Storm Austen is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds from Thursday into Friday across Ireland, the UK and north-west France.
In the Republic of Ireland, an orange rain warning covers six counties, including Cork and Dublin, while a nationwide yellow warning covers rain and wind.
Forecasters warn of possible flooding, travel disruption and difficult driving in Ireland, with rain expected to clear east on Friday morning.
In southern parts of the UK, a yellow wind warning covers much of south-west England and southern Wales, with gusts above 70mph possible on exposed coasts.
France’s north-west coast could see gusts of 120 to 130 km/h, and up to 140 km/h at the most exposed headlands on Friday.
Storms are named when they could cause disruption or damage serious enough to prompt an amber or red warning.
More unsettled weather could follow over the weekend, as another area of low pressure may bring further rain and strong winds across Ireland and the UK.
Storm Austen is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the UK, Ireland and France from Thursday into Friday.
The Met Office expects gusts of up to 60mph in southern UK areas, with stronger gusts possible on exposed coasts.
In Ireland, rain warnings cover six counties, with risks including flooding and travel disruption.
Winds of 120 to 130 km/h are forecast on parts of France’s northern and western coasts on Friday, and up to 140 km/h on the most exposed headlands.
Further wet and windy weather is forecast across Ireland and the UK over the weekend.
- Who
- Storm Austen is forecast to affect Ireland, the UK and France.
- What
- It is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain, with possible flooding and travel disruption.
- When
- From Thursday, 22 October, into Friday, 23 October 2026; further unsettled weather is forecast over the weekend.
- Where
- Ireland, southern parts of the UK, and western and northern coastal areas of France.
- Why
- An Atlantic area of low pressure is forecast to deepen rapidly as it is strengthened by the jet stream.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Storm Austen is forecast to track toward Ireland’s south coast, bringing rain and possible disruption.
The storm is forecast to begin affecting western and northwestern France.
Austen is expected to move west to east across the UK, with winds easing later in the day.
The storm is forecast to move toward the North Sea.
Further wet and windy weather is forecast across Ireland and the UK.
- Irish orange rain warning
- Six counties: Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow
- Irish nationwide yellow warning
- Rain and wind from 19:00 Thursday to 10:00 Friday, local time
- UK wind gusts
- Up to 60mph in southern areas; more than 70mph possible on the most exposed coasts
- France coastal gusts
- 120–130 km/h forecast, with up to 140 km/h on the most exposed headlands
- Storm name
- Austen was selected by Met Éireann in honour of Austen Nagle, the service’s first director
10 sources
Le trafic ferroviaire perturbé dans le Nord et le Nord-Ouest à partir de vendredi matin, en raison de la tempête Austen
Des rafales jusqu’à 140 km/h : la tempête Austen va balayer les côtes du nord-ouest de la France vendredi
Irish weather warning ahead of Storm Austen
UK weather: Amber warning issued by Met Office ahead of Storm Austen
Orange warnings as Storm Austen to bring 'intense rain'
Storm Austen forecast to hit southern UK
What people are saying
While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what’s clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named.
Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area.
For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively.