A red wind warning, the highest alert level, was issued for 23 October 2026 as Storm Austen brought gale-force winds across the Channel Islands. Wind gusts topped 80mph early Friday morning, with sustained gales beginning around midnight and peaking near 3am, continuing through the working morning.
Airports and Harbour Closures Disrupt Travel
Jersey Airport cancelled all morning flights on 23 October, with operations not expected to resume before 5pm. Guernsey and Alderney airports remained closed until noon Friday. St Mary’s Airport in the Isles of Scilly recorded a wind gust of 76mph that morning. Ports of Jersey confirmed the closure of Jersey Harbour from 6pm Thursday
through all of Friday, severely limiting sea transport.
Public Services and Facilities Shut Down
Schools across Jersey were closed Friday, a decision made days in advance for parental preparations. La Collette recycling and green waste centre remained closed all day. Sports centres were shut until at least 3pm Friday, and Howard Davis, Coronation, and Sir Winston Churchill parks stayed closed until at least Saturday morning as damage assessments took place. Jersey and Western Libraries closed Friday morning. Child and adolescent mental health services at Bermuda House and all Jersey Heritage sites were closed for the day.
Hospital and Emergency Services Operations During Storm
Emergency, urgent, and maternity hospital services in Jersey operated as
normal despite the storm. Ambulance services were active but restricted to life-threatening emergencies only. Outpatient hospital appointments continued with advice for patients to ensure safe travel conditions before attending.
Officals Provide Guidance and Safety Priorities
Ports of Jersey warned of “severe disruption to flights and sailings” and urged travellers to maintain close contact with airlines or travel agents. Paul Aked, head of meteorology at Jersey Met, explained the gale-force winds predicted for early Friday morning and the use of global weather models interpreted for local impact, stating, “It’s the skill of the local forecaster who will interpret that information and relate it to our part of
the world.”
Jon Carter, chief executive of Jersey Heritage, highlighted that staff safety was the priority with closures maintained until damage risks could be evaluated, saying their “first priority is always the safety of our staff.” Storm Austen was noted to be less intense than previous storms Ciarán in 2023 and Goretti earlier in 2026 but still caused significant travel and public disruption across Jersey and the Channel Islands.
