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- UK braces for double storm threat as Storm Austen brings 80mph winds and danger to life Amber weather warning issued for south-west England as powerful winds threaten travel chaos, power cuts and damage, with Storm Boelo set to bring another round of severe weather over the weekend. Britain is facing a double storm threat as Storm Austen sweeps across the country with powerful winds and heavy rain, prompting warnings of possible danger to life, transport disruption and power cuts. An amber wind warning has come into force across Cornwall and parts of Devon, where gusts of 60-70mph are forecast, potentially reaching 80mph in exposed locations. The warning remains in force until 10am on Friday, with forecasters warning that the strongest winds could bring down trees, damage buildings and send dangerous debris flying. The Met Office has also issued yellow wind warnings covering much of England and Wales, where gusts of 45-60mph are expected more widely, with 70mph possible in some locations. A separate yellow warning covers parts of Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, from 6am. The severe conditions are expected to cause disruption throughout Friday, with road and rail journeys potentially affected by fallen branches, trees and debris. Train operators may introduce speed restrictions or cancel services because of the risk of obstructions on railway lines, while some ferry crossings have already been cancelled, including services between Pembrokeshire and Ireland. Schools in affected areas have also announced closures or delayed openings to reduce the risks to pupils and staff during the strongest winds. South-west faces the worst of Storm Austen Cornwall and Devon are expected to bear the brunt of the storm, with exposed coastal areas particularly vulnerable to powerful gusts. The Met Office has warned that winds of this strength can bring down trees, disrupt transport networks and cause power cuts. Buildings could also sustain damage, increasing the risk from flying debris. Although much of England and Wales will experience strong winds, the most damaging conditions are forecast to pass to the south of the storm’s low-pressure centre. The effects are expected to extend beyond the UK. North-west France is forecast to face particularly severe conditions, with parts of Brittany potentially experiencing gusts approaching 90mph. The Channel Islands are also braced for severe gales, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast. In Jersey, all schools have been told to close on Friday because of the expected high winds. Meanwhile, heavy rain across Scotland could cause localised flooding. A yellow rain warning forecasts between 20mm and 40mm of rainfall in many areas, with totals potentially reaching 80mm in some locations over the course of Friday. Storm Boelo set to bring another weekend of disruption As the UK prepares for Storm Austen, another named storm is already approaching. Storm Boelo, named by the Met Office on Thursday, is expected to bring another spell of wet and windy weather across the country on Saturday and into Sunday. Yellow wind warnings have been issued for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England, with conditions expected to remain unsettled for much of the weekend. Gusts of 50-65mph are forecast widely, with winds potentially reaching 80mph in exposed locations. Strong winds funnelled through Scotland’s Central Lowlands could add to the disruption. Motorists are being warned to expect difficult driving conditions, particularly on faster roads and motorways, where surface water and spray could reduce visibility. Transport disruption and power cuts are also possible, while recent wet weather means further heavy rain could increase the risk of localised flooding. The arrival of two named storms in quick succession is not unusual, according to weather experts, who say storms often develop in clusters when atmospheric conditions favour the rapid formation of powerful low-pressure systems. Why are storms arriving so close together? A strong jet stream can help powerful storms develop rapidly over the Atlantic. Differences in temperature between warmer air moving northwards and colder air travelling southwards create conditions favourable for new low-pressure systems to form. When these systems move beneath a powerful jet stream, they can intensify quickly, producing damaging winds and heavy rain. The UK storm season typically becomes more active from late summer and through autumn, reaching its peak during the winter months of December, January and February. Although named storms can occur at any time of year, they are much less common in spring and early summer. May was the only month in the 11-year period covered by the supplied analysis in which no UK storms were named. The naming season begins in September because the likelihood of disruptive storms increases as autumn approaches and continues into winter. With Storm Austen bringing dangerous conditions on Friday and Storm Boelo expected to follow over the weekend, forecasters are warning of a prolonged period of unsettled weather, with communities across the UK facing the prospect of travel disruption, strong winds and localised flooding.
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