Cornwall weather: Friday 23 October, Storms Austen and Boelo

Two named storms in two days is not how most of us would choose to start half-term. Storm Austen is already over Cornwall this Friday morning, with an amber wind warning and the chance of gusts near 80mph, and Storm Boelo lines up right behind it for Saturday. Here is how the week of Cornwall weather looks, based on the Met Office’s latest South West forecast and warnings.

Today: Friday 23 October, Storm Austen

Storm Austen sets the tone, and the Met Office has put Cornwall under two wind warnings to match. An amber warning runs until 10am this morning, with a yellow warning staying in force until 5pm, both covering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The forecast is for very strong northwesterly winds, with gusts of 60 to 70mph developing widely and the potential for around 80mph over exposed headlands, all combined with spells of heavy rain. The rain slowly clears towards the northeast as the day goes on, leaving brighter spells and isolated showers behind, and the winds gradually ease through the afternoon. It stays cool, with a maximum of 11°C.

The warnings, and what to do

The amber warning carries real weight. The Met Office says to expect longer journey times and cancellations across road, rail, air and ferry services, a good chance of power cuts that could knock out mobile coverage too, and possible damage to buildings, with flying debris and large waves both posing a danger to life.

If you can stay in, do. If you have to head out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees, and secure loose items like bins, garden furniture, trampolines and tents before the worst of it. Driving, give high-sided vehicles, cyclists and motorcyclists extra room and go slowly through the gusts. On the coast, stay well back from the waves and take care near cliffs, keeping dogs on a lead, because even from the shore a large wave can sweep you off your feet. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Tonight

Isolated showers carry on through the night, then rain pushes back into the far southwest around dawn. The winds slowly ease through the evening, though it stays gusty around any showers. The overnight low drops to 6°C.

Saturday: Storm Boelo arrives

There is no real let-up on Saturday. Storm Boelo pushes in from the west, bringing another wet and windy day with widespread heavy rain and disruptive winds. Those winds reach severe gale force along the coasts, so Cornwall’s exposed shores take the brunt again. It is milder at least, with a maximum of 15°C.

Sunday to Tuesday: a brief breather, then more

Sunday is the day to get out. It turns drier and brighter, though it stays windy until the evening. The calm does not last. Unsettled conditions return at the start of the week, with rain and strong winds arriving early on Monday as half-term gets under way.