Families travelling to Britain’s south coast during the October half-term could face a washout, with the first named storm of the season set to bring disruptive weather.
Storm Austen, officially named by the Met Office on Tuesday morning, is forecast to reach Britain on Thursday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for severe winds across large parts of the south-east, south-west and Wales. Rain is expected across the whole of the country.
Gusts of up to 70mph could strike the worst-hit areas, particularly exposed coastal locations. The forecaster has urged people to prepare for unsettled conditions.
Families planning half-term trips to the coast have been advised to keep a close eye on the forecast. The AA warned that the conditions could make driving much more difficult.
The coming week is expected to be the wettest and windiest period of the autumn so far.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what’s clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named.
“Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it’s important to stay up to date with the forecast in the coming days.”
Storm Austen is set to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Britain as families prepare to travel for half-term
Three friends cross Westminster Bridge with umbrellas during a wet and windy day in London
The Met Office warned that travel could be disrupted, buildings could be damaged and some areas may be affected by power cuts.
Storm Austen is expected to reach its peak on Friday morning before weakening later in the day. The Met Office said many areas could receive between 20mm and 30mm of rain.
Tony Rich, a spokesperson for the AA, urged drivers travelling towards the coast this weekend to plan their journeys carefully.
He said: “With half-term approaching, many families will be looking forward to getting away, so we’d encourage anyone travelling towards areas affected by the forecast to keep a close eye on weather and travel updates before setting off.
“Strong winds and heavy rain can make driving much more challenging, particularly on exposed roads and for those towing caravans or trailers. Allow extra time, reduce your speed to suit the conditions and leave more space between you and the vehicle ahead.”
The forecast rain could nevertheless be welcomed in some parts of the country after Britain experienced its hottest summer on record.
Only last week, the Environment Agency declared a severe drought in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex.
Water companies were told to strengthen their drought planning as concerns grew over supplies, with millions of people still covered by hosepipe bans.
Overall water storage in Devon and Cornwall has fallen to just 31 per cent, while levels at some individual reservoirs have dropped sharply.
Sithians reservoir, Cornwall’s main water source, is currently at just 21 per cent capacity, compared with 44 per cent at the same point last year.
And drone images from Wimbleball, in Exmoor, show how an area previously filled with water has been left bare and dry in the aftermath of a scorching British summer.
Drone images from Wimbleball reservoir in Exmoor show how the site has been left bare and dry following a record-breaking British summer
Water supplies at the site in Devon have been left at just 21 per cent, compared to 44 per cent a year ago
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An abandoned tire is seen at Wimbleball on Monday
The site’s water supplies are said to be at just 21 per cent capacity, compared to the 44 per cent it held a year ago.
Elsewhere, Roadford reservoir has slipped to 35 per cent, down from 60 per cent a year ago, and Colliford is down eight per cent.
South West Water (SWW) introduced a hosepipe ban in August and is also considering further restrictions that could impact businesses like car washes and window cleaners.
The company said that reservoir storage levels have been ‘significantly impacted’ by higher demand after the hottest summer on record.
Rachel Gilmore, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said: ‘If you’ve got reservoirs that are running dry, there is obviously a problem.
‘After the summer we’ve had, it was obvious that water (supply) was going to be an issue. I have said repeatedly that SWW does not invest in its assets.
‘Climate change is something that is with us now and we have to act very, very swiftly.’
This weekend’s wet weather is expected to follow a period of ‘low pressure’ which is forecast to cross the UK on Thursday night.
Britain’s storm season reset at the beginning of September – which marked the start of meteorological autumn – with a fresh list of names agreed by the three cooperating weather authorities.
Among the names on this year’s list, chosen by members of the public, are Finn, Killian and Phelim, with the first three storms set to be named Austen, Boelo and Chloe.
More than 40,000 names were submitted after the weather authorities invited suggestions last year.
The unsettled weather came after an extended period of summer heat which saw five heatwaves.
From June 11 until this month, temperatures of at least 20C (68F) were recorded every day at least somewhere in Britain.
And last month was the fourth-warmest September since records began in 1864, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
Cidermakers have said they are set for the worst harvest since their records began in 1984 as apples ripened prematurely in the heat.
Torrential rain and strong winds are on the way to parts of England and Wales this week
At Burrow Hill Cider in Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset, where cider has been produced for over 300 years from its 200 acres of orchards, the crop is down about 50 per cent on last year.
The ‘extremely long and hot summer and lack of rainfall has meant the apples have ripened prematurely, are smaller than usual and have dropped to the ground by the stressed trees,’ the company said.
Another effect of the hot summer could be a vibrant landscape of trees and encourage some flowers to bloom out of season, the National Trust said.
Despite signs of a ‘false autumn’, in which drought-stressed tree leaves have turned brown and dropped early, the ingredients are still there for a colourful season – particularly if the coming weeks bring cooler, settled weather.
The summer sunshine should produce strong colour in the healthy foliage that remains but it is likely to be more varied than usual, the trust adds.
Some plants have responded to recent rain with fresh growth or a second flowering out of season – meaning there could be spots where maples are in autumn colour alongside rhododendrons in bloom.