Met Office issues yellow rain warning as Storm Austen approaches the island

The Isle of Man Met Office at Ronaldsway has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain across the whole island on Friday 23 October, as Storm Austen moves in.

The 12-hour warning runs from 03:00 until 15:00, and localised flooding is possible, according to Isle of Man Today and 3FM.

The Met Office expects between 15mm and 30mm of rain. It said flooding was most likely where drains are blocked.

In the warning, issued on Thursday, forecasters said that “the rain will become persistent and heavy tonight, before gradually easing and petering out later tomorrow morning and early afternoon”.

3FM reported that the worst of the rain was expected overnight into Friday. Isle of Man Today said Storm Austen would also bring strong winds.

A yellow warning is a signal to stay alert to weather that may cause problems. Those problems can include delays to journeys, minor damage and short-lived disruption.

Storm Austen and a second storm, Storm Boelo, have both been named by the Met Office, Isle of Man Today reported. The outlet said the weekend could bring heavy rain, severe gales and a risk of flooding.

According to Isle of Man Today, the Met Office has confirmed that it expects to issue an amber warning for the weekend as Storm Boelo arrives. An amber warning is a step up from yellow. It means severe weather is more likely to disrupt travel, schools and workplaces, and could cause damage and put people at risk of injury.

Isle of Man Today said Storm Boelo would be at its worst in the early hours of Sunday 25 October, when gusts could reach 70mph.

The wind is forecast to drop during Sunday afternoon. The rest of the day is expected to be largely sunny, though still blustery.

The weather is already affecting sea travel. 3FM reported that two Steam Packet sailings due on Friday had been called off. It separately reported that an Irish sailing had been cancelled and that a decision on an early-morning crossing on Friday was still to be made.