Cornwall sticks out into the Atlantic, so when a storm rolls in from the west it is often the first place to feel it. Autumn and winter bring big seas, strong winds and the occasional power cut. I spend a lot of storm days on the seafront at Penzance and Porthleven filming waves crashing over the harbour walls, and this is my guide to what storm season means in Cornwall, what to expect, and how to enjoy it safely.
What is storm season in Cornwall?
There is no official start date for stormy weather, but the naming season does have one. Each year a new list of storm names is published in early September and runs through to late August the following year, so autumn and winter are when the names start to appear.
How are storms named in the UK?
The Met Office names storms together with Met Éireann in Ireland and KNMI in the Netherlands. In the UK a storm gets a name when it is expected to cause enough disruption or damage to warrant an amber or red weather warning. Wind is the most common reason, but heavy rain that could cause flooding, or significant snow, can also earn one. The idea is to give everyone a single, recognisable name for the threat, which makes warnings from the media and the authorities clearer.
What happened during Storm Austen and Storm Boelo?
October 2026 has already brought two named storms to Cornwall, Storm Austen and then Storm Boelo. Storm Austen hit on Friday 23 October, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning, its second-highest level, for strong winds and gusts that could exceed 80mph in coastal areas.
Cornwall Council’s highways teams dealt with about 100 incidents by 9.20am on the Friday, mostly fallen trees and branches, and by that afternoon had received almost 400 storm reports. Roads affected included the A30 near Avers Roundabout and at Bodmin, where lorries overturned, the A39 between Playing Place and Arch Hill, the A394 near Helston, which was closed because of live power lines, and Bodmin Road in St Austell, which flooded. Narrowcliff in Newquay was closed because of storm damage and was still shut on Saturday 24 October.
Trains were hit too. Great Western Railway put lower speed limits on routes in Devon and Cornwall, ran fewer trains than usual, and cancelled some early-morning services so damage could be checked in daylight. Flood alerts followed over the weekend for parts of the south and north Cornwall coasts.
Is it safe to watch the waves?
Watching a storm from the shore is one of the great things about Cornwall in Autumn/winter, but the sea can be dangerous. My advice is to stay away from waves breaking over sea fronts, promenades and coastal defences, and to take extra care on coastal paths, beaches and other exposed areas. Be alert for falling debris and unstable structures, keep your distance from anything that looks unsafe, and never walk or drive through floodwater.
Over the years of filming storms I have found a handful of places where I know I can position myself safely, and I still never take chances. Please don’t either, because no photo or video is worth it. I once watched two people very nearly get washed off the harbour wall at Mullion Cove. Only two weeks earlier, a father and daughter had been swept into the sea from exactly the same spot, and both tragically lost their lives. Don’t mess with the sea, because you will always lose.
How do storms affect travel in Cornwall?
Roads, rail and ferries can all be disrupted at short notice. The council advises checking for updates before you set out, avoiding closed roads and following diversion signs, and Great Western Railway suggests allowing extra time and checking its live updates, as trains may be busier and slower. If your train is cancelled or delayed you may be able to claim a refund or Delay Repay, subject to the terms.
If you are driving into the towns, see my guide to the best places to park in Cornwall, and for Penzance in particular, my Penzance guides.
Where should we stay in storm season?
A cosy room with a sea view is the best way to enjoy a storm. My guide to the best places to stay in Cornwall is a great place to start, and you can use my Best Live Deals map below to see live availability and prices for your dates.
If you are staying in Penzance, my pick for storm season is the Queens Hotel, where you get a front-row seat for the stormy action.
Hi, I’m JV. As an ex travel photographer, I’ve been all over the world, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather call home than Cornwall. Now I’m putting that experience to work, finding the best of Cornwall for you. I hope you found this article useful. Please check out my socials below: