Storm Austen to bring 47mph gusts and rain to Greater Manchester
The Met Office forecast winds of up to 47mph and patches of rain for Greater Manchester on Friday as Storm Austen, the season's first named storm, crosses the UK.
Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is forecast to bring winds of up to 47mph and spells of rain to Greater Manchester, with the strongest gusts expected on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday, the Met Office said.
Rain linked to the storm is due to reach Greater Manchester from around 10pm on Thursday, continuing in patches through Friday rather than as consistent rainfall, according to Met Office forecasts.
The Met Office has issued an amber "risk to life" warning for wind in south-west England on Friday, where gusts could reach 80mph, along with yellow wind and rain warnings covering parts of Scotland, London, south-east and south-west England, the West Midlands and Wales. Greater Manchester falls outside the amber warning area.
A second area of low pressure, not currently expected to be named, is forecast to bring further wet and windy weather to a similar area early on Saturday after a brief lull, the Met Office said. A separate storm, Boelo, is due to bring additional strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England over the weekend, a Met Office spokesperson said.
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What we know
- Official · Met Office The Met Office forecast winds of up to 47mph for Greater Manchester, peaking on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday.
- Official · Met Office Rain linked to Storm Austen was due to reach Greater Manchester from around 10pm on Thursday, continuing in patches through Friday.
- Official · Met Office An amber wind warning, with gusts up to 80mph, covers south-west England on Friday; Greater Manchester is covered only by the less severe yellow warnings in neighbouring areas.
- Official · Met Office A second, unnamed area of low pressure is expected to bring further wet and windy weather on Saturday, followed by Storm Boelo over the weekend.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
With trees still in leaf, the Met Office has warned that fallen branches could obstruct roads and railways, and advised people to take care during the Friday morning commute and to secure loose garden items before the winds arrive.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Manchester Evening News: Met Office reveals exact time Storm Austen will hit Greater Manchester with wind and rain
- Manchester Evening News: Greater Manchester hit with Storm Austen wind warning as Met Office forecasts 55mph 'gales'
- Notícias ao Minuto: Novo ataque de Bruno Fernandes: "O Manchester United tem de perceber..."
- Liverpool Echo: Storm Boelo to hit UK this weekend as second storm predicted to bring wind and rain after Austen
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- When will Storm Austen reach Greater Manchester?
- Rain was forecast to arrive from around 10pm on Thursday, with winds of up to 47mph peaking on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday, the Met Office said.
- How strong will the winds be in Greater Manchester?
- The Met Office forecast gusts of up to 47mph, lower than the 80mph possible in the amber-warned south-west of England.
- Is more bad weather expected afterwards?
- Yes. A second, unnamed low-pressure system is expected on Saturday, followed by Storm Boelo bringing further strong winds and rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England over the weekend.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.