Extra safety measures have been set up by people and businesses as they prepare for the UK's first named storm of the season.
Storm Austen is forecast to bring gusts of up to 80mph (130km/h) and heavy rain across parts of Cornwall and Devon from Thursday night, according to the Met Office.
The conditions, which are also set to affect parts of Wales, England's south coast, Wiltshire and Somerset, have led to two weather warnings being issued, external for Friday.
Bosses at The Watering Hole bar on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall said they were taking extra precautions after the venue suffered damage during Storm Goretti in January.
Jamie-Lee Job said the bar lost several glass panels during that storm as the wind physically lifted them up and sent them crashing through a roof canopy.
Ahead of Storm Austen, staff at the bar have been fixing parts of the building down to make them more secure.
"It was quite scary, we've survived a lot of storms but that particular storm we underestimated how bad it was going to be," Job said.
"It is a reminder to us all to best err on the side of caution.
"So for this one we are doing everything we can do to make sure everything is secure and hopefully the roof stays on for this one."
The RNLI has reminded those along the coast to exercise "extreme caution if visiting the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs and seafronts".
Appledore RNLI Coxswain Simon McCarthy said his crew was ready to go out "at any time" and was securing its boats with extra lashings while monitoring the storm.
"With the amber warning, it means the all-weather lifeboats are more called upon," McCarthy explained.
"The inshore boats have got their limitations, so we have to make sure we have crew available."
He added: "We really do want people to be sensible. The sea will always win."
Devon County Council said it would have extra staff on hand in its Network Operations Control Centre to monitor conditions and co-ordinate responses to any weather-related incidents.
Councillor Dan Thomas, cabinet member for highways, said: "We're preparing for a spell of unsettled weather and would encourage everyone travelling around Devon to keep an eye on the forecast and plan ahead.
"With many trees still in leaf following the dry weather, there is a risk of fallen trees and branches on our roads."
Dartmouth Food Festival has also been impacted by the storm with organisers pushing some events planned for Friday back to Saturday morning.
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