Arabic version: ديفون وكورنوال تستعدان للعاصفة أوستن

According to BBC News, people and businesses in Devon and Cornwall are taking extra safety measures before Storm Austen, forecast to bring gusts of up to 80mph (130km/h) and heavy rain from Thursday night.

The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for Friday from 00:00 to 17:00 BST across Devon, Cornwall, south Wales, England’s south coast, Wiltshire and Somerset. The warning becomes amber in Cornwall from 01:00 until 10:00, with possible power cuts and building damage. Cornwall Council has urged people to avoid exposed coastal areas on Thursday evening and Friday.

At The Watering Hole on Perranporth Beach, staff have been securing parts of the building after Storm Goretti damaged the venue in January. Jamie-Lee Job said several glass panels were lost when winds lifted them and sent them through a roof canopy. She said the bar was taking every possible precaution to keep the building secure.

Residents in Perranporth said they had stocked up on torches, candles and other supplies in case of power cuts. In Devon, Pebbleridge Kitchen near Northern Burrows Country Park has moved furniture against its building and lowered shutters. The RNLI has urged coastal visitors to use “extreme caution”, while Appledore RNLI is securing boats with extra lashings.

Transport and events are also being affected. Great Western Railway said long-distance services would run between London Paddington and Plymouth rather than Penzance, with local shuttle trains planned between Penzance and Plymouth. Newquay’s Zombie Crawl parade has been cancelled, while some Dartmouth Food Festival events scheduled for Friday have been moved to Saturday morning.