Brace yourself for double storm trouble

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 23, 2026

Two storms, Austen and Boelo, will strike the UK this weekend, with Austen impacting the South West on Friday and Boelo affecting Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern England from Saturday into Sunday. These storms are expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rain, leading to travel disruptions, power outages, and safety risks from fallen trees and debris.

Two powerful storms are set to impact the United Kingdom in quick succession this weekend, prompting the Met Office to issue multiple severe weather warnings across the country. The first, Storm Austen, is forecast to arrive from the Atlantic on Friday, primarily affecting the South West with strong winds and heavy rainfall. Following closely behind, Storm Boelo is expected to hit Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern England from Saturday evening into Sunday.

An amber wind warning for Storm Austen became effective at 1 a.m. Friday for Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly. Forecasters predict gusts reaching 60 to 70 mph, with exposed coastal headlands potentially experiencing winds up to 80 mph. In addition to the high winds, heavy rain is expected before conditions gradually improve later on Friday.

Storm Boelo is predicted to bring sustained strong winds across northern regions starting Saturday evening. Yellow weather warnings have been issued for mainland Scotland, the Western Isles, Orkney, and the far north of England, covering the period from 6 p.m. Saturday until 9 p.m. Sunday. The Met Office anticipates widespread gusts between 55 and 65 mph, with isolated coastal areas potentially facing gusts up to 80 mph. Northern Ireland is also under a yellow warning from 6 p.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Sunday, where winds of 50 to 60 mph are expected, increasing to 65 to 75 mph in exposed locations.

Chris Bulmer, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, emphasized that weather conditions and warnings are subject to change, advising the public to stay updated on the latest forecasts. Chief forecaster Neil Armstrong noted that this marks the first significant stormy period of the season for southern parts of the UK, with a likelihood of disruption. Armstrong highlighted that fallen branches and trees could block roads and railway lines, posing risks to transport and safety.

While Storm Boelo persists in northern areas on Sunday, much of England and Wales are expected to experience brighter weather, with drier and less severe conditions, despite continued blustery winds. The back-to-back storms are anticipated to bring widespread impacts across the country, including potential travel delays and power outages, as the UK prepares for a period of unsettled autumn weather.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.