Storms Austen and Boelo to bring strong gusts and heavy downpours
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Austen → bring → gusts
The UK is braced for “damaging” winds and heavy downpours with two named storms expected to wreak disruption on Friday and over the weekend.
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storms → brace → weekend
Strong winds will be combined with spells of heavy rain, though gusts will gradually ease over Friday.
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gusts → combine → Friday
The forecaster said Storm Austen is “likely to bring some disruption and possible damaging winds” and warned of disruption on the roads and public transport networks.
Flying debris is “likely”, and the storm will “probably” bring some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, it added.
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it → say → roofs
In coastal areas, large waves could pose a danger to life, as well as beach debris being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.
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waves → pose → roads
Mobile phone coverage and the power supply could also be affected, the Met Office said.
uncertain
Office → affect → ?
“With trees in leaf, it is likely fallen branches and trees could obstruct roads and railways so take extra care on the Friday morning commute.”
Yellow weather warnings have been issued for the whole of mainland Scotland, the Western Isles, Orkney and the far north of England from 6pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.
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There will be “widespread gusts” of 55-65mph widely, with these reaching up to 70-80mph in more exposed coastal locations, the Met Office added.
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Office → obstruct → locations
Network Rail Scotland said trains will be slowed down on Friday and over the weekend to keep people safe in the areas expected to see the heaviest rain.
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trains → say → rain
Early on Friday, Southern Rail announced a lightning strike at Normans Bay prevented trains from stopping at the station.
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strike → announce → station
Elsewhere, National Rail said in a post on X that the weather warning meant fewer trains would call at Ryde Pier Head until 6pm on Friday.
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trains → say → Friday
A separate yellow warning, covering Northern Ireland from 6pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday, is due to predicted winds of 50-60mph, with up to 65-75mph in exposed regions.
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warning → cover → regions
Storm Austen is due to clear eastwards into the North Sea through Friday.
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Austen → clear → Friday
Forecasters have also issued a yellow warning for wind across a large area of south west England and Wales, running from 10pm on Thursday through to 5pm on Friday – with gusts predicted to reach up to 45-55mph.
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gusts → issue → mph
Another yellow weather warning for large parts of England, the North West and North Wales is in place from 10am Friday until 9pm that evening.
Heavy rain is expected on Friday, as Storm Austen tracks eastwards throughout the day.
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Austen → expect → day
It will be heaviest in southern and eastern Scotland, where a yellow weather warning has been issued from 7am to midnight on Friday.
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warning → issue → Friday
Accumulations of 20-40mm are expected within the warning area throughout this time, with 60-80mm possible in some locations, the Met Office said.
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Office → expect → locations
This could bring flooding and travel disruption in a few places.
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This → bring → places
One flood warning, meaning flooding is expected, remained in place for the South Devon coast at Beesands, Torcross, Slapton and Dawlish
Eight other flood alerts – meaning flooding is possible – were in place across England.
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flooding → mean → England
Garth Smith, head of resilience at the British Red Cross, has encouraged the public to take steps to protect themselves, their families and their homes.
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Smith → encourage → themselves
He said: “We have practical advice that can make a real difference – from checking in with people who may be more vulnerable, securing loose items in your garden to checking windows and doors, and making an evacuation plan for your household, including pets.
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who → say → pets
“We also urge people to keep an eye on local weather reports and guidance from local authorities.”
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We → urge → authorities
Greenpeace climate campaigner Maja Darlington has called on the Government to act to stop a “doomloop of extreme weather”, after a summer of wildfires and drought.
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Darlington → call → wildfires
She said: “We’ve barely cooled off from a summer of blistering heat, and now the first winter storms are battering at the front door.
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storms → say → door
“While millions of people face the prospect of ruined homes and businesses, oil giants are preparing to announce multi-billion-pound profits next week.”
“The Government must take a stand against this doomloop of extreme weather and corporate impunity,” Ms Darlington added.
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Darlington → face → weather
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