Morning flights at Jersey Airport were cancelled on October 23, 2026, as Storm Austen brought severe weather to the Channel Islands. A red wind warning, the highest possible category, was declared, resulting in Guernsey and Alderney airports closing until noon. St Mary’s Airport in the Isles of Scilly reported wind gusts of 76mph Friday morning. Jersey Airport flights are not expected to resume until after 5pm, while Jersey Harbour has been closed since 6pm Thursday and will remain shut all day Friday.
Storm Austen Winds and Weather Impact
Jersey Met predicted gale-force winds starting around midnight, with peak gusts over 80mph occurring from approximately 3am through
most of the working morning. Strong winds continued into the afternoon, with gusts near 70mph recorded throughout Friday morning. The storm’s tail is expected to bring sustained force-seven winds and gusts up to 50mph during Friday afternoon. Paul Aked, Jersey Met’s head of meteorology, noted that although Storm Austen is less intense than Storm Ciarán in 2023 and Storm Goretti earlier in 2026, it is still causing significant travel disruptions due to fallen trees.
Public Service and Facility Closures Across Jersey
Jersey schools were closed Friday following a decision made Wednesday to allow parents time to arrange childcare. Public facilities including the La Collette recycling and green
waste centre remained closed all day. Sports centres are closed until at least 3pm, and Howard Davis, Coronation, and Sir Winston Churchill parks will remain shut until at least Saturday morning pending damage assessments. Jersey and Western Libraries were closed Friday morning, and all Jersey Heritage sites shut to prioritise staff safety. CAMHS at Bermuda House also remained closed.
Official Statements and Travel Advice
Ports of Jersey warned of “expecting severe disruption to flights and sailings” and urged travellers to stay in close contact with their airline or travel agent for updated travel information. Jon Carter, chief executive of Jersey Heritage, said, “first priority is
always the safety of our staff,” with reopening decisions to follow risk assessments. Paul Aked explained Jersey Met relies on global and local weather models, with local forecasters interpreting the data for regional forecasts, emphasizing precautionary measures due to the storm’s severity.
Healthcare and Emergency Services Operations
Emergency, urgent, and maternity services at Jersey hospital continued to operate as normal, though residents were advised to use emergency departments only for serious illnesses or injuries. Ambulance services remain available but are limited to life-threatening emergencies. Outpatient appointments proceeded where it was safe for patients to travel.
