Storm Austen brings heavy rain and wind warnings across Ireland and Britain

Storm Austen is due to hit Ireland on Thursday evening as wet and windy conditions spread northwards across the country. Met Éireann has forecast heavy rain in Munster and south Leinster, with localised flooding possible, especially in Munster and Leinster.

A status-yellow rain and wind warning for Leinster and Munster is in place from 7pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday. Wicklow, Wexford and Dublin face a status orange rain warning from 2am until 8am on Friday, while Waterford, Cork and Kerry have an orange warning from 10pm on Thursday until 5am on Friday.

“With two weather events now expected, local response teams will be very busy throughout the bank holiday weekend.”

In Britain, the Met Office warned that Storm Austen is likely to bring disruption and possible damaging winds. A yellow warning covering mainly Wales and south-west England runs from midnight until 5pm on Friday, while a second yellow warning covers a wider area of England from 10am to 9pm.

An amber warning for south-west England is in place from 1am to 10am on Friday, with gusts of 60 to 70mph likely and potentially reaching 80mph over exposed headlands. ScotRail has implemented speed restrictions for Friday, meaning a revised timetable will be in place across some routes.

The Irish Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI have issued a joint appeal for the public to take extra care around coastlines and inland waterways. Keith Leonard, head of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, said local response teams will be very busy throughout the bank holiday weekend.

Storm Austen will be followed by Storm Boelo on Saturday, which is forecast to coincide with high tides, increasing the risk of flooding from high waves and storm surges along the west and northwest coasts.