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Storm Austen likely to bring strong winds and rain on Friday

The KNMI expects a turbulent Friday, but the low-pressure system’s precise track remains uncertain.

Storm Austen is heading towards the Netherlands on Friday and is likely to bring heavy rain and strong winds. According to the KNMI, the exact track may still change, and it remains uncertain where the strongest gusts will occur.

The low-pressure system Austen is developing over the Atlantic Ocean and will move north-eastwards across the vicinity of the Netherlands on Friday. The KNMI expects a wet and turbulent day. The service stresses that the system’s development and track have not yet been fully established.

The wind may pick up considerably, particularly in coastal areas and the north. Strong gusts are also possible inland. How severe they will be depends on the precise position of the low-pressure system’s various centres. The KNMI therefore describes Friday as a weather situation with considerable uncertainty.

Rain is expected to move across the country during Thursday evening and Friday. Some places may remain wet for extended periods. Road users, cyclists and people working outdoors may consequently face reduced visibility, wind gusts and water on the roads.

An official warning for the Netherlands will depend on the next calculations and measurements. The KNMI issues warnings up to a maximum of 48 hours in advance. As a result, the colour of a warning or the area to which it applies may still change later.

Weerplaza likewise describes Austen as a low-pressure system moving towards the Netherlands on Friday. According to its forecast, the wind will increase mainly along the coast, while periods of rain and strong winds will also occur inland. The comparison between the sources confirms the general picture, but not one fixed wind speed for the entire country.

The name Austen was assigned under the European storm-naming system. A name does not automatically mean that storm-force winds are present everywhere. In the Netherlands, an official storm is only declared when an average wind force of 9 is measured at a KNMI station on land for one hour.

The main uncertainty therefore concerns not the existence of the low-pressure system, but its exact route and intensity. The KNMI advises checking the latest forecast and any warnings again shortly before Friday. For now, the main certainty is that conditions will temporarily turn into wet, windy autumn weather.

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