The warning is in effect from midnight to midday on Friday, October 23. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said that while the exact track of the storm is still being determined, the system has been named due to the potential for disruption.
“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,” Crabtree said. “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.”
The Met Office storm naming system runs from September to August. This year’s alphabetical list begins with Austen and continues with Boelo, Chloe, Dano and Evelyn, ending at Wende. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are skipped in line with international conventions. Names are decided jointly by the Met Office, Met Éireann and KNMI. The name Austen was selected by Met Éireann in honour of Austen Nagle, the first director of the service.
Holly Clements, Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said: “For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively. A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.”
Last season saw only four named storms. The furthest letter reached in any 12-month period since naming began in 2015-16 was L, in 2023-24.