Winds threaten Friday travel
Storm Austen is expected to sweep powerful winds across south-west England on Friday, creating a risk of travel disruption, the BBC reports. An amber warning covers parts of the UK. The BBC identifies Austen as the first named storm of the season.
Aircraft prepared for future wildfires
In a separate announcement, the UK Prime Minister’s Office said military planes and helicopters will be prepared to fight wildfires from the air. It described the planned capability as a first for the military and as preparation for future extreme weather associated with climate change.
The announcement concerns future wildfire response and does not indicate that military aircraft have already been deployed. The government did not link the plan to Storm Austen.