Storm causes power outages and traffic disruptions in France and Britain

Storm Austen cut power to nearly 300,000 French homes ​and disrupted train and plane services with heavy winds and ‌rain today (23 October), while also knocking out electricity for some 12,000 homes in Britain.

A low-pressure front brought 111 mph (179 kph) winds and rains across Europe overnight ​with towns facing power outages as trees and debris littered ​roads, causing traffic issues, airport and train delays and reduced ⁠access to bridges.

Utility Enedis said in a situation update on Friday ​that nearly 300,000 clients had no electricity from the storm, with most ​of disruptions located in Brittany on the western coast and Normandy in the north. Britain's National Grid said engineers had to restore power to more than 12,000 ​homes.

Major disruptions were expected on the Paris commuter rail services, while ​all rail traffic was suspended in Normandy, French transport minister Philippe Tabarot said in ‌a ⁠post on X.

Disruptions were also underway at airports, with flights diverted from the main Paris hub Charles de Gaulle to Orly airport, and diversions to other French and European airports anticipated, he added.

Meteo France, ​France's weather agency, ​has issued orange ⁠alerts for much of the country's northwest, saying that heavy wind and thunderstorms would continue into late ​Friday.

A second storm named Boelo is expected to impact ​Northern Ireland, ⁠Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, Britain's Met Office said.

Heavy rain is expected to move from the west through Saturday as ⁠wind ​strength builds with gusts between 70 mph ​and and 80 mph in exposed areas, the Met office said.