With the Met Office issuing a yellow warning as Storm Austen brings heavy rain and strong winds, experts are urging households to prep for flooding and power cuts by switching off fuse boards
Brits are being urged to prepare for potential flooding and power cuts ahead of the storms which are set to batter the country this week. Weather warnings for wind and rain across parts of the UK, with two named storms due to bring disruption.
Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is expected to affect south-west England on Friday – with an amber warning for wind issued in Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly from 1am. The Met Office has warned of very strong north-westerly winds, which are due to hit 80mph in some areas.
And over the weekend, Storm Boelo will affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England with what the Met Office described as “impactful winds”.
The Met Office is recommending preparing for possible power cuts – as past storms in 2026 left thousands without power. Experts from NICEIC, the UK’s leading certification body for the electrical industry, are now urging households to take simple electrical safety precautions ahead of potential flooding and power cuts.
Their advice includes switching off the fuse board if flooding is expected, unplugging appliances to avoid surge damage and avoiding candles during outages.
Paul Collins, technical director of NICEIC, said: “It can be hard to predict the damage caused by a storm, and power cuts happen without warning. If you’ve lost power, check the power cut is not localised to your house only by looking at your consumer unit (fuse board) for any switches that might be down or off. Reset these switches accordingly.
“Always alert your electricity provider as soon as you experience a power cut in your area. The sooner an engineer is sent out to investigate the cause, the sooner you’ll have your power restored.”
Unplug / switch off appliances
He is also urging people to unplug smaller appliances and electrical equipment if power does go out. Households should also switch off larger appliances, such as electric showers, by using the switches, he added.
He said: “Doing so will prevent any electrical surge damage that may occur when the electricity is eventually restored. Minimise opening your fridge and freezer and consider filling flasks with hot water for food and drink preparation.
“Avoid using candles for light and always have a fully charged torch stored somewhere easily accessible. Keep your phone battery for communication not lighting.”