The first named storm of the season is expected to bring wind gusts of up to 60mph to southern areas of the UK at the end of the week, forecasters said.
Spells of rain and showers fell across many regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Storm Austen would approach the south-west of the country by Thursday, according to the Met Office.
An area of low pressure in the Atlantic would deepen rapidly as the jet stream invigorated it, the forecaster added.
A storm receives a name in the UK when it has the potential to cause disruption or damage resulting in an amber or red warning. The Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for strong wind from midnight to midday on Friday, covering most of south-west England and southern Wales. Parts of the south coast as far east as Brighton were also expected to experience the impact.
“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. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it’s important to stay up to date with the forecast in the coming days,” the Met Office said.
Storm Austen would move from west to east through Friday, with winds diminishing later in the day. About 20mm to 30mm of rain was anticipated in many places.
The system would move toward the North Sea late on Friday, but more wind and rain was probable throughout the weekend and into the start of next week. The heaviest rain was expected in western areas.
The Met Office storm year runs from September to August. Each 12-month period uses an alphabetical list of names to label successive storms, beginning with Austen and continuing to Wende.
The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are excluded in line with international naming conventions. The Met Office decides the names in conjunction with Met Éireann and KNMI, the Irish and Dutch national meteorological services.
Met Éireann selected Austen in honour of Austen Nagle, the first director of the service. Holly Clements, the Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said that storm naming has helped communicate severe weather risks more effectively for over a decade.
“A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property,” Clements said.
