Storm Austen cuts power to nearly 300,000 French customers as UK insurers enter peak storm season

Storm Austen crossed the English Channel overnight into 23 October and cut power to almost 300,000 customers in western France, according to grid operator Enedis, Bloomberg reported. Brittany was worst affected, with almost 150,000 customers without power, followed by Normandy, Pays de la Loire and Hauts-de-France. About 20,000 people lost power in south-west England, National Grid said.

Météo-France expected gusts of up to 140 km/h in some French coastal areas. Roads and rail lines were interrupted around Paris and in the north-west, Paris flights were delayed or cancelled, and airports on Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney closed until the afternoon. Amber alerts covered north-west Spain, France and western Germany. A second storm, Boelo, is forecast to cross Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England at the weekend.

Neither report gives a loss estimate. In the UK, where the Met Office issued amber wind warnings for Cornwall and Devon with gusts of up to 80mph, Insurance Business set out the claims background. Aviva's own data show that one in five of its home claims relate to storm damage and that 84% of its storm claims arrive between October and March. Association of British Insurers figures put 2025 home storm damage claims at £244m, up 32%, with an average payout of £2,450.

Insurance Business said brokers should review coverage gaps with clients before the season peaks, because standard home policies usually exclude wear and tear and often exclude fences and gates, and should check surface water flood cover where dry ground may slow drainage.