October 23, 2026 — Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, hit southwest England and southern Ireland overnight. It cut rail services in Devon and Cornwall and cancelled a ferry to the Isles of Scilly. More wind is expected over the weekend.
What happened
- UK warnings: The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and the Isles of Scilly from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, with gusts of 60–70 mph and up to 80 mph in exposed spots. Yellow wind warnings covered much of Wales and southern England into the afternoon, and a yellow rain warning covers parts of Scotland until 3 a.m. Saturday.
- Rail: GWR ran fewer trains with speed limits in Devon and Cornwall until at least 1 p.m. Friday. London Paddington trains ran only as far as Plymouth, with a local shuttle to Penzance. CrossCountry cancelled Plymouth–Penzance services on October 22 and 23, and the Night Riviera ended at Plymouth on Thursday night.
- Ferries: The Scillonian III sailing from Penzance to St Mary’s on October 23 was cancelled, with passengers moved to October 24, weather permitting.
- Flights: Loganair reported normal operations at Bristol, Newquay and Exeter, with free date changes within 14 days, according to Nomad Lawyer.
- Ireland: Met Éireann issued orange rain warnings for Cork, Kerry and Waterford, and for Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow early Friday, plus an orange marine warning for the south coast and the Irish Sea. Ferries from southern ports were likely to be affected.
- Weekend: The Met Office says strong winds may reach northern parts of the UK on Saturday and Sunday, with unsettled weather into next week.
What it means for airline travelers
- Heading to Cornwall from Heathrow or Gatwick? Check GWR before you leave the airport. Trains west of Plymouth may still be reduced.
- Irish Sea and Channel ferries: If you are connecting from a flight to a ferry, check with the operator before travelling and allow a buffer day.
- Northern UK this weekend: If you are flying into Scotland or northern England, watch for new Met Office warnings and check your flight status before you leave.
- Check whether your travel insurance covers weather delays and missed connections.
Sources
- LBC — Storm Austen: “danger to life” amber wind warning (October 21, 2026)
- The Post — Storm Austen disrupts Great Western Railway services until 1pm (October 23, 2026)
- Nomad Lawyer — Storm Austen 2026: UK Rail and Ferry Disruptions (October 22, 2026)
- Travel Monitor — Daily Watch List: what is affecting travel today (October 23, 2026), citing the Met Office and Met Éireann
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