Storm Austen’s 160km/h Gusts Turn Brittany into a Branch Mosaic and Newquay into a Live‑Weather Show

Storm Austen hammered France and the UK with gusts up to 160 km/h, whipping Brittany into a wind‑tunnel and sending huge waves crashing onto the French coast.

The force ripped trees from their roots, turning the countryside into a chaotic game of “branch‑tetris,” and the fallen trunks piled up on roads across southern England, creating impromptu obstacle courses for commuters.

In Newquay, BBC lead weather presenter Simon King stepped outside his studio to face the gale head‑on, turning the live forecast into something that looked more like a reality‑TV stunt than a weather report.

King’s camera captured the storm rattling the studio lights and swaying the backdrop, a literal illustration of “weathering the storm.”

Boats along the French and British coasts were left bobbing in the churning sea, some damaged by the relentless waves.

Local authorities in Brittany have urged residents to stay away from the shoreline, while road crews in southern England are busy clearing the avalanche of branches.

The storm is expected to move on, leaving behind a mess of debris, toppled trees and a few very wind‑blown haircuts.