Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, could bring gusts of more than 70mph to the most exposed coasts of south-west Wales from the early hours of Friday.
A yellow warning for wind runs from midnight until midday on Friday 23 October, with the Met Office warning that “a period of strong winds may lead to damaging gusts and transport disruption”.
The yellow warning covers 16 council areas in Wales, from Pembrokeshire to Monmouthshire, as well as much of southern England. Swansea is inside it. So are Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Gusts of 50 to 60mph are likely more widely, according to the Met Office, though it says there is still uncertainty over exactly where the strongest winds will land. They should ease from late morning into early afternoon.
Roof tiles, flying debris and closed roads: what Storm Austen’s gusts could do on Friday
The warning says there is a slight chance of damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs. There is also a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris.
Road, rail, air and ferry journeys could take longer or be cancelled, and the Met Office says some roads and bridges could close. Power cuts are a slight possibility too, and they could knock out other services such as mobile phone signal.
On the coast, forecasters warn of a small chance of injuries and danger to life from large waves, with beach material thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and homes.
20 to 30mm of rain on Friday could make travel across south Wales harder still
The Met Office expects 20 to 30mm of rain in many places on Friday, with higher totals possible over high ground in the west. The warning says some periods of heavy rain will make travel more difficult.
Low chance, big impact: why the Storm Austen warning could still change before Friday
The Met Office rates the likelihood of the worst impacts as low, at 10 to 25 per cent, but says the impact would be significant if they happen. Forecasters expect the storm to reach the south-west of the UK late on Thursday and cross the country from west to east on Friday, before fading out into the North Sea late in the day.
Tom Crabtree, the Met Office’s Deputy Chief Forecaster, said the “exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined” and that warnings “could be updated as confidence increases”.
Bins, trampolines and torches: how to get ready for Storm Austen
The Met Office is urging people to check for anything loose outside, such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences, and to plan how to secure them.
Check road conditions and bus and train timetables before setting off on Friday. Have torches, batteries and a phone power pack ready in case the power goes.
Large waves can sweep people off their feet even from the shore, so take care near cliffs and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency on the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
First storm of the 2026/27 season follows Storm Darragh’s £1.3m bill on Wales’ railways
Austen is the first named storm of the 2026/27 season. The last to hit Wales was Storm Dave over the Easter weekend, when an amber warning covered north-west Wales and yellow warnings stretched further south.
Network Rail says 25 named storms hit the Wales and Borders railway between February 2023 and January 2026. The costliest, Storm Darragh, ran up a £1.3m bill when winds reached 93mph at Capel Curig in December 2024.
Darragh brought trees down across Swansea’s roads, closing parts of Mayals Road, Cockett Road and Glanmor Park Road. The M4 was shut in both directions around Port Talbot.
More wind and rain to follow Storm Austen this weekend, with western areas in line for the heaviest
Once Austen clears, the Met Office says further wind and rain are likely over the weekend and into early next week, with the heaviest rain more likely in western areas. The Met Office had already pointed to an increased chance of wetter and windier than average conditions through late autumn and early winter.
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