Storm Austen cuts power to 161,000 homes in France

Strongest gust

161 km/h at Pointe du Raz

Gusts reached 161 km/h at Pointe du Raz in Finistère, and several stations recorded October wind-speed records.

Around 161,000 households in Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Normandy lost power, and 23 departments were on orange alert. Fallen trees disrupted trains and bridges in Seine-Maritime closed.

In Britain, the Met Office issued an amber wind warning for Cornwall and Devon, where more than 16,000 homes lost power. Another storm, Boelo, is expected to bring more wind and rain this weekend.