Storm Austen's strongest Chelmsford gusts are forecast for this evening, 46 to 47mph until 9pm. Storm Boelo brings rain and 40mph+ gusts on Saturday evening.
Storm Austen’s strongest winds in Chelmsford are forecast for this evening, not this afternoon. The Met Office hourly forecast for central Chelmsford, checked at 3pm on Friday, shows gusts of 46mph every hour from 3pm to 9pm, peaking at 47mph at 8pm (Met Office, Chelmsford County Ground forecast).
A yellow Met Office warning for wind covers Essex from 9am to 8pm today (Met Office warnings for the East of England). It is the lowest of the three warning levels. The same warning covers Southend, Thurrock, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
There is a second storm close behind. Storm Boelo arrives on Saturday, with rain from late morning and gusts back above 40mph by early evening.
Hour by hour: when the wind is strongest
These are the Met Office’s forecast gusts for its central Chelmsford forecast point, as published on Friday afternoon. Forecasts are updated through the day, so check the live page before you set out.
| When | Forecast gust | Chance of rain |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 3pm to 7pm | 46mph | 95% easing to 60% |
| Friday 8pm | 47mph | 60% |
| Friday 9pm to 11pm | 46mph easing to 43mph | 50% to 70% |
| Saturday 3am | 35mph | under 5% |
| Saturday 7am to 10am | 20 to 23mph | 10% or less |
| Saturday noon | 25mph | 80% |
| Saturday 5pm | 40mph | 95% or more |
| Saturday 10pm | 44mph | 95% or more |
| Sunday 7am | 36mph | under 5% |
| Sunday 10am to noon | 45mph | under 5% |
| Sunday 5pm | 28mph | under 5% |
The quiet spell is Saturday morning. Gusts drop to around 20mph between 7am and 10am, and the chance of rain stays under 10% until 10am.
Storm Boelo on Saturday
The Met Office issued an amber warning for Storm Boelo on Friday morning. It covers mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, from 9pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday (Met Office, 23 October).
There is no Boelo warning for Essex. At 3pm on Friday the Met Office listed only today’s Austen warning for the East of England.
Boelo will still reach Chelmsford. Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said the stormy weather “will continue to move eastwards bringing rain and windy conditions to all of the UK”. In the Chelmsford forecast that means:
- rain likely from about noon on Saturday, with a 95% chance or more from 2pm to 10pm
- gusts building from 31mph at 3pm to between 40 and 44mph from 5pm to 11pm
- a dry Sunday, but gusts of 45mph again from 10am to noon
How strong Austen has been elsewhere
Austen hit the far south west hardest. The Met Office recorded a 76mph gust at St Mary’s airport on the Isles of Scilly early on Friday, 74mph at Aberporth in Wales and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. Its amber warning for Cornwall and Devon has now expired, and the storm is moving into the Low Countries.
When it named the storm on Tuesday, the Met Office said gusts of 50 to 60mph were likely across its warning area, with rain of 20 to 30mm in many places (Met Office, Storm Austen named). The Chelmsford forecast sits just below that range.
Trains, flooding and power
- Trains. National Rail’s storm notice, last updated at 11.40am on Friday, lists disruption on Southern, Thameslink, South Western Railway, Great Western, CrossCountry, Northern, Transport for Wales and ScotRail. Greater Anglia is not on the list (National Rail, Storms Austen and Boelo). National Rail says trains may run slower in high winds and that disruption is possible until Monday 26 October. Our Chelmsford train times page has the regular service.
- Flooding. The Environment Agency had no flood alerts or warnings in force anywhere in Essex at 3pm on Friday (Environment Agency flood data).
- Power. UK Power Networks runs the network in Chelmsford. Report a cut or a fallen line on 105, the free national power cut number (Power Cut 105).
The clocks go back on Sunday
The clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October (GOV.UK). The Met Office used the change as a reminder to get ready for winter weather. In research published on Wednesday, it found only 13% of people describe themselves as fully prepared for severe winter weather (Met Office, 21 October).
What it means for you
- Tonight is the windiest part of Austen in Chelmsford. Bring in bins, garden furniture and anything else loose before dark.
- Saturday morning is the calm window. If you have outdoor jobs or a long drive, the Met Office forecast favours before 11am.
- Expect a wet Saturday afternoon and evening. Plans outdoors after 2pm are likely to be rained on.
- Check rail before you travel. Greater Anglia is not listed as disrupted, but National Rail warns that could change until Monday.
- Trees down on roads in Essex are reported to Essex Highways. Our roadworks and travel page lists current closures.
- Never touch a fallen power line. Keep away and call 105, or 999 if it is an emergency.
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