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Storm Austen is causing widespread travel disruption, with strong winds and heavy rain reported across the UK
Trains are being hit by cancellations and delays due to strong winds and fallen trees - here's a rundown of the disruption
National Grid says it has restored power to more than 60,000 homes, but hundreds are still without power in parts of England and Wales
Millions remain under yellow weather warnings for wind and rain, with a second storm, named Boelo, expected to hit the UK on Saturday
One man tells us he was evacuated from a motorway service station near Bicester after it was hit by a power cut, while Sara Gatland in Guernsey says her flight home to Edinburgh was cancelled due to the stormy weather
Rail lines will close from 21:00 in part of Scotland on Saturday, according to Network Rail, while people are being advised to avoid all travel unless necessary
David Dixon
Reporting from Porthleven in Cornwall
There are some very, very big rollers coming in at Porthleven in Cornwall.
I was awoken by howling wind about 04:30.
There were bins over the road in Penzance.
It's blowing pretty hard and there is heavy rain.
There is lots of debris and branches over the road.
Teresa says she lives on Trinity Hill in Jersey and it had been raining heavily between 03:30 and 05:00 BST.
She adds the wind has been "howling through the house" and shaking the building.
"It's quite frightening," Teresa tells BBC Radio Jersey.
She adds she has changed her plans for the day and her Labrador Rexy does not want to go outside.
"He's normally bounding about in the garden, but he's looking at me sheepishly saying 'no chance'," Teresa says.
"We're just hoping there's no lost dogs today - hopefully today all doggies will be at home."
Simon King
Lead weather presenter, reporting from Newquay
The winds are ferocious out here.
The storm has firmly arrived in the South West of England, here in Newquay we've had gusts approaching 75mph or so.
These strong winds will continue through the morning, we've already seen travel disruption. Ferries are cencelled, trains have been cancelled in the South West as well.
But it's the Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands which will also be badly affected by Storm Austen.
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group says its vessels will not be travelling between Penzance and the islands on Friday and Saturday due to the forecasted conditions.
Along with passenger ferry Scillonian III, the firm says its Menawethan freight service is also cancelled.
It says sea heights of up to 5m (16.5ft) are expected.
The travel operator says Scillonian III passengers will be transferred to an alternative crossing, while the next scheduled sailing for the Menawethan is Monday.
Tristen Dodd, head of highways, transport and infrastructure at the Government of Jersey, said the team could not go out overnight to clear any fallen trees due to the weather conditions and darkness making it unsafe.
He said once it became lighter and the wind speeds decreased, inspection work could start.
"When wind starts to drop and its safe to do so, we'll do our tree clearing work," Dodd, pictured below, told BBC Radio Jersey.
He said when storms happen, the "whole island pulls together" with emergency services helping his team.
Dodd urged people who did need to travel this morning to take "great care". He also advised against using vehicles with two wheels, such as bicycles and motorbikes.
Guernsey Post says there will be no mail deliveries or collections on Friday due to the cancellation of the mail boat.
It adds some of its post offices and collection counters will be closed.
"We plan to resume deliveries and collections on Saturday, with deliveries also taking place on Sunday to help manage mail volumes," a spokesperson says.
Exeter Airport has announced the flight due to arrive from Jersey at 11:10 BST and another from Edinburgh at 12:50 have been cancelled with departures to those locations also cancelled.
A flight from Dalaman in Turkey did arrive safely at 01:32.
Currently National Grid is now reporting 6,980 homes in Cornwall without power this morning, mainly in the Penzance and central Cornwall area.
This includes 2,241 vulnerable households.
Councillor Thalia Marrington has advised people to have torches to hand during the storm.
In Devon there are two power cuts affecting 30 homes.
James Dundon
BBC Cornwall
Image source, Getty ImagesOn the A30 eastbound at Redruth, near the Avers Junction, a van is reported to be on its side.
Eastbound traffic is currently being diverted off at Avers and back onto the A30 via the slip road, so delays are expected in the area.
On the A30 at Plusha, some cones have reportedly been displaced within the roadworks. Drivers are being urged to slow down and take extra care.
Ian reports a number of trees down between Tresillian and Union Hill near Waitrose in Truro. The road remains passable, but vehicles are having to use the opposite side of the carriageway to get through.
In Hayle, Erin has shared video showing a power line down and sparking outside Bodriggy School. Police have closed the road while the incident is dealt with.
We've also seen reports on social media of a fallen tree on The Coach Road near St Ives Holiday Village.
And in the Callington area, there are reports of trees down on both Haye Lane and Haye Road.
Please only travel if necessary and take extra care on Cornwall's roads this morning.
Jonathan Vautrey
BBC Weather Presenter
Here are the highest gusts as of 06:26 BST from the Met Office:
Devon County Council is asking people to review their travel plans due to Storm Austen.
Along with the high winds, the council says heavy rain could also lead to standing water and localised flooding.
Councillor Dan Thomas, cabinet member for highways, says people should take time to prepare for journeys.
"Please check the forecast for your location and consider whether you can postpone non-essential journeys during the strongest winds," he says.
"People in the amber warning area," and anyone using exposed roads or coastal routes, should take particular care."
Jersey Met says the centre of the storm is currently passing just north of Alderney.
It says there was just over 20mm (0.8 inches) of rain across that island overnight.
Jersey Met the highest gust of wind recorded so far is 82mph (132km/h) at St Catherine's Breakwater in Jersey just before 04:00 BST, but stronger gusts could be recorded later this morning.
Image source, Jersey MetDevon County Council's highways team has posted on X to say a fallen tree was reported on the southbound A380 between Exeter and Newton Abbot, blocking a lane on Telegraph Hill.
BBC Radio Cornwall listener Hilary called in to say there were trees down in Haye Lane and Haye Road in Callington which she spotted while out dog walking this morning.
Meanwhile, Great Western Railway (GWR) says its services between Penzance and Taunton are running at reduced speeds due to Storm Austen.
A GWR spokesperson says: "Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.
"Disruption is expected until the end of the day."
Jonathan Vautrey
BBC Weather Presenter
Storm Austen has now arrived to the South West of the UK and will push eastwards through the English Channel during Friday.
A Met Office amber wind warning is in force across Cornwall and the far west of Devon until 10:00 BST. A yellow wind warning for all of Cornwall and Devon is in place today until 17:00. Jersey Met has issued a red wind warning for the Channel Islands.
The storm has undergone explosive cyclogenesis in the Atlantic, defined by its central pressure decreasing by at least 24 hectopascals in 24 hours.
The strongest winds are expected over the course of this morning, potentially reaching 80mph (130km/h). Combined with high tides which peaked around 03:00-05:00, there will be large waves and coastal overtopping.
Trees are still in leaf at the moment. This extra surface area means they are more susceptible to falling over in the strong winds. In tandem with spells of heavy rain, transport disruption is likely and power cuts are also possible.
Take care when travelling because journeys will be more challenging than usual. Check with travel providers before setting off in case of any delays and cancellations.
Great Western Railway has said speed limits will be in place on routes between Devon and Cornwall until 13:00 today to keep trains running safely.
It said "fewer trains" be running as a result with busier journeys expected.
Long distance services towards Devon and Cornwall will run between Reading and Plymouth only, with connections onto local services.
GWR said: "Other services in the region are likely to change as we seek to minimise the impact of the storm and some early-morning services will be cancelled to allow us to assess the impact of any damage in full daylight."
Image source, Press Association
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National Grid is reporting power cuts in Saltash, PL12 and surrounding areas, along with Truro TR1 and Redruth TR15 and the Penzance area.
Overall it is reporting 12 incidents in Cornwall with 5,062 homes affected.
The States of Guernsey says the worst of Storm Austen is forecast to pass over the Channel Islands between 06:00 and 11:00 BST.
It adds while the impact is expected to be less severe than Storm Goretti in January, the peak of the storm will be during a time when people would normally be commuting.
"We would encourage islanders to take all sensible precautions," a States spokesperson says.
"Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity... Ensure you have taken measures to protect your property, securing things like outdoor furniture at your house and closing windows, and if you have a boat, checking its moorings before the storm arrives."
A number of schools across Cornwall have said they will open later today to help children and parents arrive safely.
Many will open after 10:00 BST, when the Met Office's amber warning for wind is due to end.
Others have said they will temporarily shut ahead of the weekend.
You can check the full list of school closures in Cornwall via the council's website, here, external.
The Government of Jersey says all of the schools and colleges it runs will be shut during the storm
It adds other sites including sport centres, libraries, parks and La Collette Recycling Centre will also be closed.
"Emergency, urgent and maternity health services will continue to operate as normal," a government spokesperson says.
"The Union Street customer hub will also remain open."
