Powerful winds reaching almost 80mph and heavy rain is forecast to batter parts of the UK this week.

Storm Austen is expected to hit the country late on Thursday as an area of low pressure formed in the Atlantic rapidly deepens over the south west of England and Wales .

The Met Office has also warned Storm Boelo is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the country on Saturday. The strongest winds will be across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England and a yellow weather warning for wind is in place from 6pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.

Forecasters have issued three weather warnings on Friday ahead of the storm alongside a “danger to life” warning along sea fronts and coastal roads due to large waves and thrown beach debris.

An amber weather warning is in place across Cornwall and parts of Devon between 3am and 10am on Friday.

Very strong northwesterly winds could reach 80mph in the south west which could damage buildings, bring down trees and cause disruption to power supplies and…