Storm Austen has made landfall, affecting both northwestern France and the southwestern coast of England. The storm, characterized by violent wind gusts, has caused significant infrastructure damage, most notably resulting in widespread power outages. In France, reports indicate that approximately 161,000 homes were left without electricity. Meanwhile, in the UK, National Grid data reported over 16,000 homes without power in the southwest as of Friday morning.

The impact on public services varies by region. In the UK, specifically across Cornwall, the severe weather forced numerous schools to either delay their opening or close entirely for the day. Meteorological data recorded wind gusts reaching 76mph at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly. While Euronews focuses on the broader regional impact across the English Channel, The Guardian provides more granular detail regarding the specific operational disruptions within the UK. Forecasters have issued further amber weather warnings for wind, which are expected to remain in effect through the weekend as the storm system continues to move across the region.