Jonathan Morris
Channel Islands

Image source, The Quarterdeck Restaurant and Bar

The boss of the Channel Islands Co-op is asking customers to be patient when visiting its stores in the coming days.

Mark Cox says there is a significant backlog of deliveries due to a lack of ferry services caused by Storm Austen

Fresh food shortages are expected in the coming days, according to the Co-op chief executive, who adds essential medication is a priority.

“It's rare we get this level of disruption to storms backing up so quickly and probably a little bit more heavier than what we've had to deal with in the past," he says.

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

I've been in the Met Office today, where forecasters have been closely monitoring Storm Austen since it arrived in the South West overnight, and as it continues to track eastwards.

There's a real sense of focus here. After a relatively quiet start to autumn in terms of named storms, two have now arrived in quick succession.

Teams at the Met Office have also been issuing and updating weather warnings ahead of Storm Boelo, which is expected to arrive on Saturday afternoon, bringing strong winds to the northern half of the UK through Saturday night and Sunday.

With Storm Austen bringing disruption further south today, forecasters are continuing to monitor the latest information as they track both storms and will provide updates as the situation develops.

Pictures of the conditions across the UK during Storm Austen show large waves, flooded roads and trees down.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Weather Watcher/Debbie W

Image source, Weather Watcher/daisythecat

Image source, Weather Watcher/Muddy - Paws

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we brought you pictures of Brighton's West Pier partially collapsing into the sea as high winds from Storm Austen batter the UK.

The pier closed to the public in 1975 and grew increasingly derelict, but the ruined structure became a symbol of Brighton for some.

It first opened in 1866, with its final building - a concert hall - completed in 1916.

At its peak it attracted two million visitors, although its popularity declined after World War Two.

Major sections fell into the sea during storms in late 2002, while two separate fires the following year destroyed most of what remained.

English Heritage later declared it beyond repair. Subsequent storms - including Storm Austen - have destroyed its iron frame even further.

Brighton Palace Pier, located further down the coast, is the one still operating today.

Image source, Getty Images

Tree surgeons have been out in force across Jersey to help clear-up work.

Renouard Le Maistre, from Jonathan Le Maistre Tree Surgery, says it was a "really busy" morning as they cleared roads and removed trees which had fallen on power lines.

"Calls keep coming in and we're keeping busy," he says.

"Hopefully not too much and hopefully we can retain some trees.

"We're just thinning out the dangerous ones currently and getting through it.

Image source, Weather Watchers/ Muddy - Paws

Douglas Cairns from Transport Scotland tells the BBC his team is liaising with the Met Office and Police Scotland in response to expected severe weather over the next 48 hours.

"The roads will be flooded [and] there will slow travel times as a result," he says. "With winds, you're likely to see fallen trees, debris on the road."

He advises people to check with their local transport operators before travelling and asks people to consider whether travel is necessary over the weekend.

Bring essential gear including a warm jacket and a fully charged phone if travelling, he says.

"Do the safe thing - only go out if it's necessary," he says.

Trains are being disrupted between Weymouth and Brockenhurst after three trees have fallen.

The first came down on the line near Bournemouth. South Western Railway (SWR) said the tree had now been removed and damage to the track repaired with checks underway to reopen the line.

SWR said another tree had since fallen east of Bournemouth station, blocking all lines between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst.

Another tree has also come down near Holton Heath station, blocking the line from Wareham towards Bournemouth.

Image source, SWR

Coastguards have been attending overnight incidents in the South West.

Gill Rylance, from the Falmouth Coastguard, told BBC Radio Cornwall this morning its all-weather lifeboat was called to a French fishing vessel which had an injured person onboard on Thursday evening at about 23:15 BST.

She said the man was transferred to mainland for medical assistance on Friday.

Plymouth's inshore lifeboat was also tasked to a shipping vessel who had called for help overnight after securing an unmanned drifting power boat.

"They secured it alongside them but because of the weather conditions deteriorating, they were concerned there was risk to them and their vessel," Rylance said.

The power boat was moved to a nearby mooring and will be recovered today, he continued.

The Plymouth crew also assisted authorities with a person in the water overnight who was passed to the care of the ambulance service.

“Considering conditions, it’s fairly routine so far,” he added.

Jersey Met has downgraded the red weather warning for wind to orange.

It says severe gale force nine gusts of 60kt (69mph/111km/h) are forecast.

The warning says disruption to travel is likely and damage to moored boats is possible in exposed areas.

The Government of Jersey says teams remain out clearing trees and debris with about 170 incidents reported.

Great Western Railway says several routes are still experiencing issues as a result of Storm Austen.

Problems include trees blocking lines between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple, Westbury and Castle Cary, Liskeard and Looe, Par and Newquay, Truro and Falmouth Docks and Plymouth and Gunnislake.

Trains are also running at a reduced speed between Penzance and Taunton.

Jenny Kumah
BBC South West England Correspondent

James Spiers is staying in the Droskyn Lookout Hostel in Perranporth.

He started the coastal path in June during the heatwave and has been camping but booked into a hostel because of the storm.

“I didn’t want to risk damaging the tent," he says.

He adds: "If this winter ends like last winter it could just be persistent rain and storms, and, yeah, I need to be doing a lot more forward planning now for the winter. “

• Check for loose items outside your home and secure them
• Stay indoors as much as possible
• If travelling, check for delays and road closures and ensure you have warm clothes and a charged phone
• If you must drive in these conditions, travel slowly and look out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists
• If near the coast, take care near cliff areas and beware of large waves

Jersey Development Company says the seasonal ice rink at the Weighbridge in St Helier has sustained damage during Storm Austen.

As a result, it says the facility will not open as planned on Saturday and people with tickets can reschedule for another session.

A post on its Facebook page says: "We will inspect the marquee on Sunday morning and hope to reopen on Sunday 25 October.

"The safety of our visitors and staff is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding."

Image source, Jersey Development Company

James Kelly
BBC Your Voice

Stephen Royle, who lives opposite Brighton's West Pier, has captured photos and footage of Storm Austen battering the crumbling structure, which has caused significant damage.

"It's the first thing I see when I look out of my window every day," he says.

"I am shocked by the amount of pier that’s ended up in the sea.

"The waves rolling in were enormous. Such a shame."

Image source, Stephen Royle

Jared Evitts
BBC Newsbeat

The storm’s caused plenty of damage in the South West already, including at NALU Coffee House cafe in Newquay.

“We’ve got a very bent mop, but other than that we’re all good,” says barista Cerys.

“I think it was the wind, I think the store cupboard opened and I found the mop this morning in the car park, very bent. So I don’t know how we’re going to mop tonight.”

Carys, 21, says it’s “very windy, very rainy” because the cafe’s near “the infamous Aldi wind tunnel” which is apparently “very well-known” in the town.

Image source, Supplied

“Last January when we had a storm it ripped the front of the building off,” she says.

“We can see people trying to cross the car park and struggling a lot. And can see the sea in the distance which looks pretty nuts.”

Carys says she had to walk to work at 06:15 BST with “a lot of stopping and starting trying to fight the wind” – while her colleague Holly drove which she says “was a bit like Mario Kart, dodging all the bins in the road”.

Two yellow warnings for wind are in place in the UK - one covers parts of south west England, parts of Wales and along the south coast and another is in place for later on today covering parts of southern England.

Here is your latest on travel disruption that may affect you:

In the skies:

• Guernsey Airport remains closed but is expected to reopen at 14:00, with all flights cancelled until at least 16:45
• Jersey Airport says flights are cancelled until the afternoon and passengers should check with their airline for information
• National Rail says the Gatwick Express will be disrupted today

On the tracks:

• National Rail says routes are affected across England, Scotland and Wales across the weekend, with disruption possible on Monday
• It says CrossCountry services in south-west England will be disrupted until at least the end of Saturday
• Great Western Railway has made amendments to train services today, including fewer trains between Devon and Cornwall, and a tree currently blocking the railway between Westbury and Castle Cary
• Some journeys with Northern Services will be amended throughout the day, and possibly for the rest of the weekend
• For Transport for Wales, some services in west Wales will involve rail replacement buses, and there are reduced services on the Cambrian line and North Wales Coast
• In the south, there are reduced services between Three Bridges and Brighton, and delayed between Fareham and Southampton, and Arundel and Horsham
• On South Western Railway there is service disruption expected between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury expected until 15:00, between Weymouth and Brockenhurst until 18:00, and some disruption on long distance and mainline services

On the seas:

• Stena Line says some services are disrupted by the weather, including the cancellation of the 16:00 from Holyhead to Dublin and the morning ferries from Rosslare to Fishguard
• DFDS says there are cancellations between Dunkirk and Rosslare are cancelled, as well as between Calais and Dover, and Newhaven and Dieppe
• Wightlink says FastCat services and several Car Ferry services have been cancelled today and significant disruption is expected tomorrow from 17:00 to midnight

Matt Taylor
BBC Weather

Storm Boelo follows hot on the heels of Storm Austen later on Saturday but forecasts also show the potential for yet another deep area of low pressure to arrive later on Monday and into Tuesday.

It's too early to say if this one will be named but it looks likely to follow a similar track to Boelo with the strongest winds focussed towards the north of the UK.

A succession of storms is perhaps not as unusual as you think.

When you have a strong jet stream roaring across the Atlantic as we do right now, areas of low pressure can easily be developed and steered towards the UK in quick succession.

In February 2022 three named storms had big impacts in Northern Ireland - Eunice, Dudley and Franklin.

A fourth storm is looking unlikely though as our weather quietens down through the week.

James Kelly
BBC Your Voice

Hannah Dawson-Turk and her husband and son are staying at a hotel near Whipsiderry Beach in Cornwall after being evacuated from Haven’s Perran Sands site in Perranporth yesterday afternoon.

"Everyone was removed at 14:00 so we had to find last-minute accommodation. It’s really disappointing because we had such a lovely place to stay," she tells the BBC.

"But the night before last, it sounded like our caravan was going to be ripped apart, so it was probably wise to move everyone before the storm hit.

"The storm is very loud outside now, and the waves look huge from our windows. The hotel also appears to have suffered damage: we can see part of the roof on the floor and smashed glass. We still have power at the moment."

A Haven spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that it had decided to close its Perran Sands and Riviere Sands holiday parks.

"Anyone staying on the park is being asked to leave and we’ll be delaying arrivals. We’re communicating directly with everyone affected about their options and will offer those due to arrive on Friday a break at another Haven park or a later arrival in Cornwall.

"We’re really sorry that people’s breaks are being disrupted but safety of our guests and team comes first".

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

The Met Office says strong winds in the Channel Islands should start to "ease off" for the rest of the day, after they received a red warning for wind overnight and all schools had to close today.

Officers have put two warnings in place for Storm Austin in the UK, after the amber warning ended at 10:00 BST and some parts of the country saw really strong gusts of wind - some over 70mph (110km/h) in the early hours.

Gusts of 76pmh (120km/h) were recorded in Saint Mary's in the Isle of Scilly.

There is now a yellow wind warning for parts of south west England, parts of Wales and along the south coast, where there is still the risk of further strong and gusty winds.

Then for later on today, there is a yellow warning for parts of southern England, where winds will not be as strong as earlier, but could see inland gales up to 55-65pmh (90-105km/h).

On Saturday, Storm Boelo is forecast to bring more strong winds. The impact is expected to be on more northern parts of the country.

The Met Office has implemented an amber warning for wind on Saturday to cover parts of Scotland, parts of northern England and parts of Northern Ireland.

The strongest gusts are expected overnight from Saturday into Sunday, with gusts of up to 80mph (130km/h) predicted around exposed coast and headlands.

There is also a wider yellow warning for wind covering more of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England tomorrow.

Devon County Council's highways team says the A39 Torridge Bridge has reopened.

It had been closed by the authority due to the strong winds from Storm Austen.