High winds knocked out power to thousands of people in southwest England on Friday morning as the first of two major storms expected to hit the U.K. this weekend swept in from the Atlantic.

The U.K. Met Office issued an amber warning for wind gusts up to 80 mph (130 kph) in Cornwall and Devon as Storm Austen moved into the area early Friday. Winds up to 60 mph (100 kph) are forecast across southern and central England throughout the day as the storm moves eastward along the English Channel coast.

With heavy rain forecast in some areas and the likelihood that high winds will topple trees that are still in full leaf, the Met Office warned of further power outages and travel disruptions.

Weather forecasters in Jersey issued a red warning for shipping around the Channel Islands, with wind gusts of up to 80 mph expected in the area.

A second major storm is expected to bring more wind and heavy rains to northern parts of the U.K. later in the weekend.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England on Saturday night and throughout Sunday as Storm Boelo sweeps through the area.

With winds gusting up to 65 mph (105 kph), forecasters are warning of further power cuts, transportation delays and the risk of building damage and flying debris.

The Met Office began naming major storms in 2015 as a way to keep the public informed about severe weather. Storms are named in alphabetical order throughout the season, which runs from September to the following August.

Vance becomes a hurricane as it churns off the coast of Mexico

Vance has become a hurricane as it churns off the coast of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said early Friday.

At 0900 GMT, Vance was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph), and was about 440 miles (710 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco.

Vance is moving toward the north-northwest near 6 mph (9 kph), and this motion is expected to continue through the weekend.

The center said the storm is expected to strengthen rapidly and could be a major Category 3 hurricane before the end of the day.

Taiwan shuts schools and grounds flights as Typhoon Champi brushes by

Taiwan shut down schools and offices and grounded hundreds of flights as Typhoon Champi brushed by the island Friday, packing strong winds and torrential rains.

Champi peaked at 298 kph (185 mph) maximum sustained winds earlier this week but has weakened to 155 kph (96 mph) winds as it approached Taiwan from the southwest. Its center is forecast to remain offshore as it sweeps by the island's northeastern tip before turning north toward Japan's southwestern islands.

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration urged residents in coastal areas to avoid outdoor activities and driving and be cautious of falling objects.

One person was killed Thursday after being swept away by waves in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan's main island, according to the fire department. More than 170 other people were injured in the storm.

More than 2,600 people have been evacuated from vulnerable, mountainous areas, the government said.

All of Taiwan's 262 domestic flights were canceled, along with 669 international flights, according to the transport ministry. High-speed rail services on the western coast were operating normally.

The capital Taipei, in northern Taiwan, saw light showers and gusts of winds. Transportation services including the subway remained open.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited the island's Central Emergency Operation Center in New Taipei City, which spans from near the capital to Taiwan's northern coast.

Champi has a massive radius of around 320 kilometers (200 miles), large enough to engulf most of Taiwan. Experts expect its biggest effect on Taiwan to last through Saturday and that it will reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday.

In southwestern Japan, the typhoon has injured one person, grounded flights and knocked out power.

On Ishigaki island, nearly 2,000 homes were without electricity.

Dozens of flights in and out of the southwestern islands, including Miyako, Ishigaki and Okinawa, have been canceled.

In the Philippines, the coast guard prohibited ships and ferries from venturing into the increasingly choppy waters off several northern towns and cities Friday.

The main domestic airport in Batanes, provincial capital of Basco, was shut down Friday and two local flights were canceled, Philippine aviation officials said. The airport's windows were boarded up as a safety precaution.

In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people were evacuated to safer grounds as a precaution. Classes were suspended in all levels in the island town of Calayan off Cagayan due to the typhoon, provincial officials said.

Champi earlier this month blew past several Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared.