Storm Austen is set to batter southern England and Wales with 70mph gusts from 11pm on Thursday
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree has cautioned that "an impactful period of weather" may lead to power outages, structural damage and airborne debris. A yellow wind warning runs from midnight to noon on Friday, taking in south Wales, south-west England and the south coast as far east as Brighton. Some areas could see up to 30mm of rainfall. The storm is expected to arrive just as families set off for the half-term break.
Residents are urged to secure or bring indoors bins, trampolines and garden furniture before the winds strike.
A second weather system on Saturday could bring 70-80mph gusts to western Scotland.
Ireland's Met Éireann named the storm after Austen Nagle, its first director, appointed in 1936.
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