Storm Austen hits south west England, leaving thousands of homes without power as schools close

Power cuts and school closures

Thousands of homes lost power as Storm Austen reached the UK. In Cornwall, dozens of schools opened late, and some did not open. National Rail reported severe disruption, with cancellations across England, Wales and Scotland. The storm’s effects stretched beyond homes and schools to the rail network.

Warnings for strong winds

The Met Office issued an amber wind warning on Wednesday for Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly. It took effect at 1am on Friday and ran until 10am.

A separate 24-hour amber warning was issued for Storm Boelo from 9pm on Saturday. It covered Scotland, Northern Ireland’s north coast, and Cumbria and Northumberland in northern England.

Risks and emergency supplies

The Met Office warned of a “good chance” of power cuts, building damage, uprooted trees, and rail and flight cancellations. The warning outlined hazards expected with Storm Boelo.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK could face greater flooding during winter and stressed the need to recognise risks and take action. He spoke on Friday while attending a summit focused on lessons from the summer’s record wildfires.

A government campaign urged people to keep food and essentials at home for emergencies lasting several days. Burnham said the advice was intended to help people cope during periods without power, including in Cornwall.