Cornwall weather: Wednesday 21 October, Storm Austen on the way

If you had jobs planned outdoors this week, you may want to rethink the timing. A named storm is heading for the South West, and the Cornwall weather builds towards it, with changeable sunshine, showers and a risk of hail first, before Storm Austen arrives on Thursday to bring wet and windy conditions that reach gale force on the coast.

Today

Early rain clears away through the morning to leave sunny spells and scattered showers, some of them heavy, with a risk of hail in the strongest. Winds are strong to start the day and slowly ease by the evening, though it stays gusty around the showers. The maximum temperature is 12°C.

Tonight

Clear spells do not last. An organised band of heavy, blustery showers pushes in from the west overnight, before mostly clearing by dawn as the wind falls light. The minimum temperature drops to 7°C.

Thursday

Thursday starts dry with sunny spells, a calm before the change. Storm Austen pushes in from the southwest during the afternoon, bringing wet and windy weather that reaches gale force at the coast overnight. The maximum temperature climbs to 16°C, warmer than today, though the wind is what will be felt most.

Friday to Sunday

Storm Austen hangs on for most of Friday before clearing to scattered showers by the evening. Saturday looks unsettled again, with further rain and wind likely, ahead of a drier interlude on Sunday. Quite how long that calmer spell holds is the question as the week runs out.