Brits living in these 26 areas urged to prepare for storm as severe weather to hit UK

The Met Office has urged people living in some parts of the UK to consider preparing an ‘emergency kit’ as a storm is expected to bring heavy downpours in the coming days.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is set to affect south-west England on Friday (23 October), with an amber warning for wind issued in Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am.

Forecasters have warned of very strong north-westerly winds, with gusts of 60-70mph developing widely and some gusts of up to 80mph for exposed headlands.

These will be combined with spells of heavy rain, though winds will gradually ease over Friday.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for rain covering parts of north-eastern, central and southern Scotland, which will be in place for 21 hours, lasting from 6am on Friday until midnight, with 80mm of rain expected to fall.

The meteorologists have cautioned that there is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings.

Where flooding occurs, there is also a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services, as well as difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

There is also a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads, as well as power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

Advice on the Met Office website reads: “Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.

“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

“People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”

It continued: “Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.”

The areas that are covered by the rain warning in Scotland

• Angus
• Clackmannanshire
• Dundee
• Falkirk
• Fife
• Perth and Kinross
• Stirling
• Aberdeen
• Aberdeenshire
• Moray
• East Ayrshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• East Renfrewshire
• Glasgow
• North Ayrshire
• North Lanarkshire
• Renfrewshire
• South Ayrshire
• South Lanarkshire
• West Dunbartonshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• East Lothian
• Edinburgh
• Midlothian Council
• Scottish Borders
• West Lothian

Storm Austen is the first of two storms hitting the UK this weekend, and will be closely followed by Storm Bolero, which is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain across the UK on Saturday (24 October).

As reported by The Independent, a yellow weather warning for wind has been issued from Saturday evening through to Sunday evening across Scotland, north east and north west England and north Yorkshire.

Chris Bulmer, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, told the publication: “Storm Boelo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, impacting the opposite end of the country to Storm Austen.

“Gusts of 70-80mph in exposed coastal areas and high ground are possible, with 50-60mph gusts more widely. The strong winds will be accompanied by heavy rain, making for an impactful weekend of weather.

“Severe weather warnings and forecast detail will continue to develop, so people should keep up to date with the forecast over the next few days.”