While all eyes are on Friday and Storm Austen, Wednesday brings an early taste of the storm with strong gusting winds and spreading rain.

The strongest gusts will be felt in north-west Wales and England, reaching around 60 mph in Holyhead and 55 mph in Liverpool, slightly lower gusts of 40 to 50 mph spread across Wales and the south-west at times in the early afternoon.

Rain grows heavier at times too. With accumulations of up to 30 mm expected by the end of the day along the southern coasts of Hampshire and Dorset, and around the Elan Valley in Waves. Some surface flooding could be seen.

Before reaching the UK with full force, eastern Ireland first feels the impact of the wind, gusts of up to 45 mph (70 km/h) are expected in Dublin. Scotland is spared from the gusting winds until the late afternoon, into the evening.

Rain and winds from Austen at the end of the week will be more severe than what we see Wednesday. Gales could reach speeds of 70 mph in exposed south-western regions of England.

Some uncertainty still remains on the exact path of Austen, impacts could be greater or lesser than predicted until this become clear.