CORNWALL, England, October 23, 2026 â Nearly 7,000 homes in Cornwall were reported without electricity on Friday morning as Storm Austen battered south-west England with winds exceeding 70mph, bringing down trees, damaging power lines and disrupting essential services.
National Grid reported 6,980 properties without power in Cornwall, including 2,241 vulnerable households. Another 30 homes were affected by two separate outages in Devon, according to BBC live coverage.
The storm also forced flight cancellations, suspended ferry services, disrupted trains and closed schools across Cornwall and the Channel Islands. Wind gusts reached 82mph in Jersey as authorities warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Storm Austen Power Cuts Hit Nearly 7,000 Cornwall Homes
Penzance and central Cornwall were among the areas most affected by electricity outages.
National Grid initially reported 12 incidents affecting 5,062 properties before the Cornwall total increased to 6,980 later on Friday morning.
Areas reporting power cuts included:
- Penzance: Significant electricity disruption.
- Truro (TR1): Outages affecting residential areas.
- Redruth (TR15): Power interruptions amid storm damage.
- Saltash (PL12): Electricity outages in surrounding communities.
- Central Cornwall: Additional reported power failures.
- Devon: Two outages affecting approximately 30 homes.
The figures represent Friday morning conditions, not a confirmed live total of homes still without electricity.
National Grid Reports 2,241 Vulnerable Households Affected
Among the affected Cornwall properties were 2,241 households classified as vulnerable, raising concerns for residents requiring additional support during electricity interruptions.
Power outages can affect medical equipment, refrigerated medicines, heating systems and communication devices.
Customers needing extra assistance can contact their electricity network operator about its Priority Services Register.
When Will Electricity Return in Cornwall and Devon?
No single confirmed restoration deadline was available for all affected properties in the Friday morning reports.
Repair times depend on the extent of damage, accessibility of electricity infrastructure and whether engineers can work safely during severe winds.
Residents can check postcode-specific outages and available restoration estimates through the official National Grid power-cut map.
UK residents can also call 105 to report an electricity outage or contact their local electricity network operator.
Fallen Power Line Sparks Outside Hayle School
In Hayle, a fallen electricity cable was reported sparking outside Bodriggy School, prompting police to close the affected road.
Fallen trees were also reported around Truro, Callington and St Ives.
On the A30 near Redruth, a van was reported overturned, while a fallen tree blocked a lane of the southbound A380 at Telegraph Hill in Devon.
Residents were warned to stay away from damaged electrical equipment and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Storm Austen Wind Speeds Reach 82mph
Storm Austen intensified rapidly over the Atlantic before reaching south-west England and the Channel Islands.
Reported wind gusts included:
- Jersey, St Catherine’s Breakwater: 82mph
- Isles of Scilly, St Mary’s Airport: 76mph
- Guernsey Airport: 76mph
- Jersey Airport: 72mph
- Culdrose, Cornwall: 71mph
- Camborne: 64mph
- Plymouth, Mountbatten: 58mph
The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for Cornwall and western Devon until 10am BST Friday, alongside a yellow warning lasting until 5pm. The Channel Islands faced a red wind warning.
Flights Cancelled, Trains Delayed and Ferries Suspended
Exeter Airport cancelled flights involving Jersey and Edinburgh, while Great Western Railway introduced speed restrictions between Devon and Cornwall.
Passengers faced potential delays of up to 90 minutes, with disruption expected throughout Friday.
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group cancelled Friday and Saturday sailings, including Scillonian III passenger services and Menawethan freight operations. Waves reaching five metres were forecast.
The disruption follows other UK transport incidents, including the Leyland railway disruption and the British Airways BA295 emergency.
Jersey Schools Closed as Residents Urged to Stay Indoors
Government-run schools and colleges in Jersey closed Friday, along with libraries, parks and sports centres. Several Cornwall schools also delayed opening or temporarily shut.
Guernsey Post suspended Friday deliveries and collections, with services expected to resume over the weekend.
Devon County Council urged residents to postpone non-essential travel because of falling trees, strong winds and possible localised flooding.
Households without electricity were advised to keep torches available, conserve phone batteries and avoid fallen power lines.
Residents should continue monitoring official weather warnings and National Grid restoration updates as repair crews assess storm-related damage.
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