Storm Austen caused widespread travel disruption across the UK and Channel Islands on October 24, 2026, with gusts reaching up to 80 mph and official weather warnings issued. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for much of south-east England and an amber wind warning for Scotland, Northern Ireland’s north coast, Cumbria, and Northumberland from 9 p.m. covering 24 hours.
Flight Cancellations and Airport Disruptions
Flight cancellations and diversions occurred at multiple UK airports including Bristol, Exeter, London City, and Guernsey. Loganair cancelled flights on routes between Southampton, Jersey, Bristol, and Exeter. Aurigny airlines suspended flights to and from Guernsey and Somerset due to forecasted
wind gusts up to 65 mph. London City Airport prepared for delays caused by storm conditions affecting its exposed runway.
Guernsey Airport Damage and Safety Inspections
Guernsey Airport’s terminal sustained damage overnight from high winds. Teams from Guernsey Ports conducted initial inspections on the morning of October 24 to assess damage. Full internal and external safety checks were undertaken before reopening. Airport director Richard Thomasson said, “We’re just doing final checks for the terminal now and we hope to have that open at 2 p.m., we’re taking every precaution possible but we are very conscious that we want to get open, allow flight to operate to
get passengers moving and if we have to stay open later this evening than our published opening times then we are very keen to do that.” The terminal reopening was planned for 2 p.m. with flexibility to extend hours to facilitate passenger movement.
Power Outages, School Closures, and Rail Disruptions
National Grid Electricity Distribution reported that before 10:30 a.m. on October 24, over 18,000 homes in south-west England were without power. In Brighton, 20 schools closed for the day while 50 reopened later in the afternoon. Rail services across the UK faced severe disruptions with cancellations and delays due to fallen trees and lightning strikes. National Rail
and Great Western Railway issued warnings for service interruptions on October 24 and through the weekend. Transport for Scotland advised travel only if absolutely necessary during the storm period.
Travel Advisories and Ongoing Weather Risks
Bristol Airport urged travelers to check flight status, monitor airline updates, allow extra time, and drive safely amid disruptions, stating: “With Storm Austen causing disruption across the UK today, passengers travelling to and from Bristol Airport are advised to: Check your flight status before travelling. Monitor airline updates. Allow extra time for your journey and drive safely.” Weather forecasts predict further disruption with Storm Boelo expected to affect Northern Ireland, Scotland,
and northern England over the coming days, prolonging travel challenges across the region.
