Storm Austen is set to bring severe weather from Thursday evening. Gale-force gusts and heavy rain is expected.

The storm system is currently expected to move through southern England, with gusts of up to 70 mph in the south-west, including Plymouth. The conditions will also reach western Europe, keep an eye on that if you have a holiday planned this half-term.

Trees may topple, damaging properties and vehicles. It will also cause problems for travellers: flights and ferries may be cancelled, and rail services are likely to be disrupted.

The change begins on Thursday evening, with stormy weather stretching from Ireland, through the UK, into Brittany. Northern Spain will also feel the effects of the storm. On Friday, it will mainly affect the UK, the English Channel and northern France.

In isolated cases, hurricane-force gusts of around 95 miles per hour are even possible. Rainfall accumulations of 20 to 30 mm are also expected widely. Weather warnings for wind and rain are already live.