Britain is bracing for a run of stormy weather into Halloween, with forecasters warning of gusts near 60mph and heavy rain as one Atlantic low after another sweeps in.
The outlook points to roughly five unsettled spells over the next fortnight, with the roughest weather expected around Friday and Sunday. Gusts could reach about 60mph across western areas and nearer 50mph in the east, with downpours heavy enough to put several inches of rain on already soggy ground.
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The culprit is a conveyor of deep Atlantic low-pressure systems steered straight at the British Isles. Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer and the Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis both flagged the stormy run, along with chilly nights dipping close to freezing in the north and into single figures further south.
For Portsmouth and the wider Solent the message is simple. An exposed south-coast front means strong winds, driving rain and spray over the seafront, with the usual knock-on for ferries, bridges and high-sided vehicles. It is worth tying down bins and garden furniture, and checking before you travel on the worst days.
Could the next one be Storm Austen?
No storm has been named in the UK so far this autumn, which is later than usual. The Met Office only hands out a name when a system looks likely to bring amber warnings for wind or rain, and the next one in line would be Storm Austen.
Naming matters because it helps a warning cut through, so people take the wind and rain seriously and plan around it. If any of the coming lows deepens enough, that name could be in the headlines within days.
Either way, we will keep the latest Portsmouth weather and news updated as the Met Office sharpens its warnings, so you will know which days to batten down for.
