Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is bringing gusts of up to 70mph to Sussex today, Friday 23 October 2026, with fallen trees blocking railway lines and roads in and around Brighton and Hove. A Met Office yellow wind warning covers Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, according to V2 Radio and Sussex News. Southern has cancelled or cut back services on several routes.
Updated. The details below follow V2 Radio’s live blog, last updated at 8.17am on Friday 23 October. Check live travel updates before you set off.
Warning. Met Office yellow wind warning for Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex. It was first set to run until midday and was later extended, with the coast covered until 5pm and some inland and northern areas until 9pm, according to V2 Radio.
Gusts so far. About 70mph at Bognor Regis and about 50mph at Selsey by 6am, according to V2 Radio.
Rail. Trees are blocking lines at Moulsecoomb (Lewes to Brighton), Balcombe (Haywards Heath to Brighton), Uckfield and Angmering, and Southern has suspended or shortened several services.
Roads. Fallen trees or branches on the B2117 near Hurstpierpoint, the A273 at Clayton and the A24 near Findon.
What the Met Office warned
Storm Austen was named on Tuesday 20 October. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said it was named because of “the potential for disruption in places”, and that “Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas”, according to ITV News.
The warning lists possible disruption to road, rail, air and ferry services, damage to buildings including loose roof tiles, flying debris, and power cuts that could also affect mobile phone coverage. Large waves could also throw beach material onto seafronts, coastal roads and nearby properties, including in Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing.
Sussex News reports that unsettled weather with more wind and rain is forecast into the weekend.
Trains
V2 Radio’s live blog reports trees on the line at Moulsecoomb (Lewes to Brighton), Balcombe (Haywards Heath to Brighton), Uckfield (Crowborough to Uckfield) and Angmering (Worthing to Angmering). A tree earlier closed all lines between Crowborough and Uckfield.
Southern and Thameslink changes. The peak London Bridge services to Littlehampton and Eastbourne are suspended, as are Victoria to Eastbourne and Victoria to Ore, and Thameslink Cambridge to Brighton.
Gatwick Express. Victoria to Brighton trains now run only to Gatwick Airport.
Other cut-backs. Victoria to Littlehampton now runs only between Haywards Heath and Littlehampton. Thameslink Bedford to Brighton now runs Bedford to Three Bridges and Haywards Heath to Brighton.
Southern told passengers to “make sure to check your route before you travel” and allow extra time, according to V2 Radio.
Roads
B2117 Brighton Road. A tree blocked the road south of Hurstpierpoint, at Muddleswood, causing problems both ways at about 6.13am.
A273 at Clayton. A tree blocked the road both ways between South Bank and New Lane, south of Hassocks, with long delays expected, at about 7.19am.
A24 near Findon. A fallen branch was slowing northbound traffic near the Findon roundabout at about 8.15am.
B2095 in Battle. A tree blocked the road at about 7.17am.
Ferries
Wightlink cancelled several car ferry and FastCat sailings between the mainland and the Isle of Wight, with the worst disruption expected around midday. Passengers booked for Friday can move to another sailing for free, according to V2 Radio.
Police advice
Sussex Police asked drivers to slow down and travel only if essential, to watch for debris and fallen trees, to avoid floodwater and to stay away from the coast.
Emergency lines are busy, so call 999 only in an emergency. Report non-urgent fallen trees using the contact details for your area.
Comments
No comments yet. Start the conversation.