Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, brings strong winds and heavy rain to the West Midlands on Friday 23 October. A Met Office yellow wind warning covers part of the region from midnight to 2pm. One local report says a further yellow warning covers the whole region from 10am to 9pm. Expect slower roads, possible train delays and possible disruption at airports.
This guide covers Storm Austen travel across the West Midlands, what it means for Birmingham Airport, and how to plan a safer journey. It also notes the M42 closure that starts on Friday night.
Storm Austen travel in the West Midlands at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is the storm? | Late Thursday 22 October into Friday 23 October |
| West Midlands warnings | Yellow wind: Herefordshire from midnight to 2pm (Met Office page); whole region 10am to 9pm (local report) |
| Strongest winds | The amber warning is in the south-west, not the West Midlands |
| Weekend outlook | Further wind and rain through the weekend, according to the Met Office |
| Birmingham Airport | We found no airport statement; check your airline |
| Also on Friday night | M42 weekend closure from 9pm |
What the Met Office says about Storm Austen
When it arrives
The Met Office named Storm Austen on 20 October. A deepening area of low pressure will arrive from the south-west late on Thursday, then move from west to east through Friday. Winds generally ease later on Friday as the storm moves into the North Sea.
Rain as well as wind
Heavy rain is a second hazard. The Met Office expects 20 to 30mm in many places on Friday, with higher totals over high ground in the west and further north. Its forecast also expects more wind and rain through the weekend and into early next week. The heaviest rain is more likely in the west.
Warning for the West Midlands
The Met Office’s yellow wind warning for Friday runs from midnight to 2pm. For the West Midlands region, the page we accessed lists only Herefordshire under that warning.
BirminghamWorld reports that the Met Office has extended a yellow wind warning across the whole region, running from 10am to 9pm on Friday. It covers the West Midlands conurbation, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
The report quotes a spell of strong winds, touching gales at times, that may bring localised impacts.
Why the warnings differ
The Met Office updates warnings as the forecast changes. When we checked its page, it said warnings might be out of date, and we couldn’t confirm the later regional warning there. Check its live warnings page before you travel, rather than relying on a screenshot or this article.
What a yellow wind warning means for your journey
Likely effects
A yellow warning means impacts are possible, not certain. For the Friday yellow warning, the Met Office says road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. The later regional report quotes a milder message: some bus and train services may be affected. Power cuts may occur in places. They can switch off traffic lights and station systems.
Where the storm is strongest
The strongest winds are expected in the south-west, where an amber wind warning runs from 3am to 10am on Friday. Gusts of 60 to 70mph are expected there, with perhaps 80mph on exposed headlands, according to the Met Office. Across the wider yellow area it expects 50 to 60mph, with 70mph or more on some exposed coasts. The regional report gives no gust figure for the West Midlands. Don’t expect the same conditions as Cornwall.
Official advice
The Met Office asks travellers to check road conditions if driving, and bus and train timetables, and to amend plans if necessary. That’s sensible advice for any storm day, and it costs nothing.
Driving in the West Midlands during Storm Austen
Take extra care
Strong crosswinds affect high-sided vehicles, caravans and anyone on exposed stretches. Heavy rain adds spray, standing water and slower braking. Leave extra space, reduce your speed and expect debris such as branches on minor roads.
Roadworks on Thursday night and this weekend
Storm conditions arrive alongside planned HS2 work.
An HS2 notice lists an overnight closure of the M6 between junctions 4 and 4A, from 10pm on Thursday to 5am on Friday. It includes the M42 junction 7A link to the M6 southbound.
The M42 then closes from 9pm on Friday to 5am on Monday, between junctions 6 and 9 northbound and junctions 9 and 7 southbound. Our guide to HS2 and the M42 closures explains how they affect journeys to Birmingham Airport and the NEC.
Parking and loose items
Park away from trees, fences and tall structures if you can, because branches and debris fall in strong winds. Secure anything loose on a roof rack, trailer or bike carrier. At home, bring in bins and garden furniture before the wind picks up, so they don’t end up on the road.
Buses and trams
The Met Office says some bus services may be affected. Allow longer for connections, and check your operator’s updates before you leave. A delayed bus in heavy rain is unpleasant at an unsheltered stop. For tight airport connections, a pre-booked car is worth considering.
Closures can move
The Solihull Observer reports that National Highways has identified 6 to 9 November as contingency dates if the October works need rescheduling. We found no announcement of a change at the time of writing. High winds can affect crane and bridge work, so check HS2 and National Highways for the latest.
Birmingham Airport and flights during Storm Austen
What we know
We couldn’t find a Birmingham Airport statement about Storm Austen when we wrote this. Check your airline’s app and email first, because airlines decide whether a flight operates. The airport’s website and social channels also publish operational updates.
How wind affects flights
Strong winds can slow arrivals, force diversions and lead airlines to cancel or retime flights. In Storm Isha in January 2024, for example, British Airways cancelled flights at Heathrow because of expected restrictions on arrivals. Birmingham Airport has faced weather disruption before. In January this year, heavy snow from Storm Goretti led it to suspend runway operations.
Your rights if a flight is disrupted
The Civil Aviation Authority explains your rights in its guidance on compensation. Airlines usually treat severe weather as an extraordinary circumstance, so fixed compensation normally doesn’t apply. You can still claim a refund or re-routing for a cancelled flight, and care during long delays. Keep your receipts.
Trains and the Air-Rail Link
Check before you travel
National Rail has asked passengers to check before travelling because of Storm Austen’s yellow warnings. Wind can bring speed restrictions and debris onto the line, so services may run late or be cancelled. Check your operator’s journey planner on the morning you travel.
Getting to the airport by rail
Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International takes as little as 10 minutes, according to Avanti West Coast. The free Air-Rail Link then takes you to the terminal. If services are disrupted, a pre-booked taxi gives you another option, but check the roads too.
Taxi and airport transfer tips for a storm day
Allow extra time
Wind and rain slow traffic, so add a buffer to your normal journey. Work back from your airline’s check-in time, and tell your driver that time rather than your departure time. If your flight is early, ask your driver to confirm the pickup the evening before.
Flight tracking
Our Birmingham Airport transfers page says we track your flight, so a delayed or early landing moves your pickup. For a cancellation, it says we’ll rearrange your booking around your new travel plans. That matters in a storm, when landing times can change at short notice.
Luggage and the drop-off
Rain makes a long walk from a drop-off point unpleasant. Our Birmingham Airport transfers page notes that the airport charges for its forecourt drop-off zone, so ask us when you book how that’s covered. If a friend drives you, remember the airport’s free Drop Off car park has a strict 10-minute limit.
Fixed fares
Our Birmingham Airport transfers page says the price you’re quoted is the price you pay, with no meter and no surge pricing. That helps when a storm slows traffic and you’d rather not watch a meter. Each booking is a fixed fare agreed before you travel.
If you’d like a fixed price for your journey, our Birmingham Airport transfers page explains how to book.
Should you leave early for the airport?
Not necessarily. Airlines set check-in times, and arriving hours early doesn’t help if the flight is delayed. Check your airline’s app first. When the flight is operating, leave with a buffer for slower roads. A delayed or cancelled flight means waiting for your airline’s instructions before you set off.
When a flight diverts
In storms, aircraft sometimes land at a different airport. During Storm Darragh in December 2024, for example, a KLM flight from Amsterdam landed at Birmingham instead of Bristol, according to The Independent. If your flight diverts, listen to your airline’s instructions first. Then tell your taxi provider as soon as you know where you’ve landed, because the pickup and the arrangements depend on the airport.
Charging and offline copies
Strong winds can cause power cuts. Charge your phone and a power bank before you leave. Download boarding passes and tickets in advance, so you can show them without a signal. Keep a paper copy of important addresses and phone numbers too.
Early starts and late arrivals
Storms often make the dark hours harder, with debris on roads and fewer people around. Our guide to late-night taxis in Birmingham explains how out-of-hours bookings work. We run airport transfers 24 hours a day, so an early or late flight is booked like any other.
The weekend outlook
Saturday 24 October
The first weekend of October half-term brings further wind and rain, according to the Met Office. With the M42 closing from 9pm on Friday, expect busy diversion routes around Birmingham Airport and the NEC. Leave earlier than you normally would, and check conditions on the morning you travel.
Early next week
The forecast keeps unsettled weather in the picture into the start of next week, with the heaviest rain more likely in western areas. Plan trips on Monday and Tuesday with the same caution, and check the warnings again.
Should you travel at all?
If you can be flexible
Consider moving a flexible trip. Many airlines offer free changes ahead of named storms, but not always, so check your airline’s page. Rail operators often let you use tickets on another day when severe weather hits, but check the rules for your ticket.
If you can’t move
When travel is unavoidable, leave earlier, keep your phone charged and tell someone your plan. Carry water, a coat and a charger. Don’t drive through floodwater or cross fallen cables.
Checklist for Storm Austen travel
- Read the Met Office warning for your area.
- Check your flight or train on the morning you travel.
- Leave extra time, and avoid exposed routes where possible.
- Tell your taxi driver your check-in time.
- Keep your flight number and booking reference to hand.
- Carry water, a charger and a coat.
- Keep receipts if your plans change.
Book an airport taxi in Birmingham
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-fare taxis to and from Birmingham Airport, 24 hours a day. Tell us your flight number, passengers and luggage, and we’ll plan your pickup around your flight. If the storm changes your plans, tell us as soon as you can. Book your airport taxi online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Storm Austen hitting the West Midlands?
Late Thursday 22 October into Friday 23 October. The Met Office’s yellow wind warning runs from midnight to 2pm on Friday, and a local report says a regional warning runs from 10am to 9pm.
Is there a weather warning for Birmingham?
A local report says a yellow wind warning covers the whole West Midlands region, including Birmingham and Solihull, from 10am to 9pm on Friday 23 October. We couldn’t confirm it on the Met Office page, so check the live warnings.
Will flights from Birmingham Airport be cancelled because of Storm Austen?
We found no airport statement. Strong winds can cause delays, diversions and cancellations, so check your airline before you travel.
Can I claim compensation if Storm Austen cancels my flight?
Airlines usually treat severe weather as an extraordinary circumstance, so fixed compensation normally doesn’t apply. You can still get a refund or re-routing, and care during long delays.
Is the M42 still closed this weekend?
The HS2 closure is scheduled from 9pm on Friday 23 October to 5am on Monday 26 October. National Highways has identified 6 to 9 November as contingency dates, so check for changes.
What happens to my airport taxi if my flight is delayed by the storm?
Our Birmingham Airport transfers page says we track your flight and move the pickup to match. For a cancellation, we’ll rearrange your booking around your new plans.
