Storm Austen on Thursday and Friday By Brian Gaze [Published 06:45 21/10/2026] The first named storm of the 2026–27 season, Storm Austen, has been named by the UK Met Office. It is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds tomorrow night and into Friday. There is still some uncertainty about its exact track, with even small changes potentially making a significant difference to local weather conditions, particularly where the strongest winds will occur. 14 day forecast video Issued 20th October 2026 Unsettled and windy Showery spells of rain become increasingly heavy and persistent as they push eastwards across England. They will also be accompanied by strong winds, with the combination making it feel very cold. Outbreaks of rain also spread northeastwards across much of Scotland. In Northern Ireland there will be sunny spells, while brighter conditions will return to parts of western Britain during the afternoon. Temperatures range from 7°C to 13°C. Check the weather radar for the most up to date view. Ad-free browsing and premium features Subscribe to The Weather Outlook Premium to enjoy ad-free browsing and extra features. Subscribe on a recurring monthly basis or for a fixed 12 month period. Find out more: The Weather Outlook Premium UKV, Wednesday 21st October [Tap animation to toggle cities] Tonight:Rain could continue near the south coast. Elsewhere in the UK drier conditions will return, with clear spells developing, although there is a risk of further showers in the west. It will be cold with patchy frost. The Signal Stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts and computer model trends by exploring our new feature, The Signal. It includes short videos, animations, and charts. View The Signal Tomorrow: A mostly dry and bright day is expected, although wet and windy conditions begin moving into the south west by the evening. Temperatures will be close to the seasonal norm. UKV, Thursday 22nd October [Tap animation to toggle cities] Friday: Storm Austen is expected to track eastwards over or just to the south of southern Britain, bringing the risk of damaging winds and heavy outbreaks of rain. The stormiest conditions are likely across the South West and areas south of London, but there is still some uncertainty, with some models taking the storm further north. Outlook: Unsettled weather is likely through the weekend and the early part of next week. Therefore, all regions can expect showers or longer spells of rain, with temperatures fluctuating around the late October norm. GFS overview for Friday 23rd October - Sunday 25th October