Britain is bracing for a second 80mph storm in just 24 hours as forecasters issued another amber weather warning after thousands of homes were left without power by devastating winds.
Storm Boelo is set to unleash powerful gusts and torrential rain across the country this weekend, bringing fresh misery just hours after Storm Austen battered the South West.
The Met Office has issued a sweeping amber wind warning covering mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England from Saturday night into Sunday.
Widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph are expected, with winds potentially reaching 80mph in exposed coastal areas.
Yellow warnings have also been issued across a much wider area, stretching further south into England and covering the whole of Northern Ireland.
The warnings come after Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, wreaked havoc on Friday, leaving more than 16,000 homes without electricity in the South West.
The storm also destroyed a section of Brighton's iconic West Pier.
Footage showed one side of the landmark, which opened in 1866 and attracted two million visitors a year in its heyday, falling into the water as it was hit by large waves.
Waves smash into the structure which has become increasingly derelict since closing in 1975
One side of Brighton's historic West Pier falls into the water today as it is hit by large waves
A damaged car after a tree was brought down by a heavy gust of wind in Richmond, west London
People walking in the rain on Westminster Bridge in London
The pier closed to the public in 1975 and has become increasingly derelict, but for some remains a symbol for the East Sussex city. It also lost major parts of its structure during storms in 2022, while two fires the next year gutted most of what remained.
Drivers in Devon and Cornwall were told to only travel if necessary following reports of overturned vans, trees down, fallen power cables and debris blown across roads.
South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink, Great Western Railway, Northern Rail, CrossCountry and Gatwick Express all warned of train disruption due to the storm.
Some 19 flights were cancelled at Heathrow today, 17 at Gatwick, 13 at Southampton and four at Exeter, according to FlightRadar24 data. All morning flights at Jersey Airport were axed due to a red wind warning, affecting 25 services.
Austen is the first named storm of the season and will clear eastwards into the North Sea tonight, before a separate low pressure system – Storm Boelo – arrives tomorrow.
Andy Burnham was asked if the Government is playing catch-up with civil preparedness as he attended a summit to learn from the summer's record wildfires.
The Prime Minister told reporters: 'No, we are having the conversation with people about being better prepared because we're living in a world where unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common.
'Obviously weather events – and we're in a situation today where the UK is facing storms, and obviously we feel for the people without power in Cornwall right now – it is just having those supplies in the house to get you through those moments.
Road closure caused by fallen trees on the A39 between Falmouth and Truro in Cornwall today
Much of the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Dorset is underwater after heavy rain today
Two people walking in the rain along Victoria Embankment in London
'We are having that conversation about resilience. That's why we're holding this summit today, it's why we're putting the guidance out to the public. We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it's about recognising all of those risks and taking action.'
Power cuts struck Cornwall, including Truro, Redruth, Penzance and Saltash, while fallen trees blocked roads and disrupted transport services.
Four schools in Cornwall were forced to close, while dozens more delayed opening as the storm swept through the region.
Winds reached 76mph at St Mary's Airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74mph in Aberporth, south Wales, and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall.
The amber warning for Austen has now expired as the storm moves towards the Low Countries, but forecasters warned the respite would be short-lived.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Dan Suri said: 'Storm Austen is moving into the Low Countries today but will still bring wet and windy conditions to large parts of the UK through the day.
'Yellow warnings for wind remain in place for Wales and much of England today, and a warning for rain is also in force in southern Scotland.
'Conditions will eventually improve briefly tonight before Storm Boelo moves in from the west.'
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway warned the storm would bring heavy rain and strong winds to the entire country, with the worst conditions in the north.
He said: 'People should prepare by securing loose items outside their property, being ready in case of power outages and being aware of likely travel disruption.'
The amber warning is in force from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, with motorists warned to expect dangerous driving conditions and disruption to public transport.
Southern England and Wales are expected to enjoy drier and brighter conditions on Sunday, although strong winds will persist.
But the unsettled weather could continue into next week, with another Atlantic low-pressure system threatening further wind and rain, particularly in northern Britain.
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