20/10/2026
⚠️🌪️ : STORM AUSTEN NAMED | FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE SEASON 🌪️⚠️
🟡 MET OFFICE YELLOW WEATHER WARNING IN FORCE FROM FRIDAY
📅 Thursday 22 – Friday 23 October 2026
📌 Wales – particularly western & southern areas
The Met Office has officially named STORM AUSTEN, marking the first named storm of the 2026/27 storm season, with potentially damaging winds and heavy rainfall forecast to affect parts of the United Kingdom later this week.
SARS Cymru has been monitoring this developing Atlantic low-pressure system through UK Met Office (UKMO) forecast models, which have consistently highlighted the potential for a significant deterioration in weather conditions across Wales.
The latest forecasts indicate:
🔹 50–60mph wind gusts possible across affected areas, with gusts of 70mph+ in some exposed coastal locations
🔹 A developing low-pressure system bringing a potentially intense period of strong west to northwesterly winds
🔹 Heavy rainfall accompanying the system, potentially leading to difficult driving conditions and localised surface-water flooding
🔹 The strongest winds currently expected during the early hours of Friday morning, although the precise timing and locations remain uncertain
🔹 UKMO model projections showing considerably stronger gusts over exposed offshore waters, highlighting the strength of the developing weather system
🟡 MET OFFICE WEATHER WARNING
A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued:
🗓️ Friday 23 October 2026
⏰ 00:00 – 12:00
📌 Covering numerous areas across Wales, including Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Swansea, Cardiff and surrounding areas.
⚠️ POTENTIAL DISRUPTION
🌳 Fallen trees, branches and flying debris
⚡ Electricity outages and possible telecommunications disruption
🚗 Difficult driving conditions, particularly on exposed routes and bridges
🌊 Large waves and hazardous coastal conditions
🏠 Possible damage to buildings and unsecured outdoor items
🌧️ Localised flooding where heavy rainfall develops
🛡️ PREPARE NOW – OUR ADVICE
We encourage residents to take sensible precautions ahead of Storm Austen’s arrival.
✅ Secure outdoor furniture, trampolines, bins and loose objects
✅ Charge mobile phones and power banks
✅ Ensure torches and emergency supplies are easily accessible
✅ Check on vulnerable neighbours, relatives and friends
✅ Consider alternative travel arrangements where necessary
✅ Avoid exposed coastlines during periods of strong winds and large waves
📡 SARS CYMRU – STORM MONITORING
Our team will continue monitoring Storm Austen, assessing UKMO forecast developments, official Met Office warnings and potential impacts on communities throughout Wales.
As the storm approaches, we will provide further updates where necessary, particularly if forecast confidence increases or weather warnings are revised.
Although Storm Austen has now been officially named, there remains uncertainty surrounding its precise track and intensity. Not every area will experience the strongest winds, and forecasts may change.
We encourage everyone to remain weather-aware and make preparations appropriate to their circumstances.
🚨 OUR VOLUNTEERS 🚨
Our volunteers will be ready to support and respond from Thursday, 18:00 to Friday, 14:00.
Stay informed. Stay alert. Stay prepared. Stay aware.
