Latest Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest weather update as Storm Austen threatens Premier League clash

The UK is set to be battered by the first storm of the season this weekend with Suffolk expected to take the brunt of it on Friday night.

Ipswich Town play host to Nottingham Forest at Portman Road in front of the live television cameras although there is speculation the game could come under threat due to the severity of Storm Austen.

A yellow weather warning has been issued from 10:00 (BST) on Friday 23rd October as winds approaching 50mph get set to blow in across the county later in the evening, bringing in wind chills of around -7C.

The Premier League clash is scheduled to get underway at 20:00 (BST) with weather experts predicting the weather warning could be upgraded to amber or even red by the time the two teams are due to take to the field.

Will Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest go ahead?

Despite the weather warning surrounding Storm Austen, at the time of writing, it's expected the game will go ahead.

The UK is hit by a large number of storms during the autumn and winter months each year, with stadiums -- including Portman Road -- designed to withstand extremely high winds and torrential rain.

Any concerns regarding adverse weather will be discussed ahead of the match between the match officials and both the ground staff and stadium safety team.

As per the official Premier League website: "Whenever there is the slightest indication of a match being adversely affected by the weather, clubs are advised to contact the match referee at least 48 hours before kick-off to warn of the potential for poor conditions.

"In the Premier League, an inspection will take place early on a matchday to try to avoid wasted journeys for supporters.

"The referee will firstly speak to the head of the ground staff, as they are the best-placed person to understand exactly how the pitch behaves under certain conditions and the likelihood of a pitch deteriorating or otherwise."

What happens if Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest is postponed mid-match?

Given the unpredictable nature of the weather at this time of year, it's not always possible to accurately predict conditions, meaning sudden changes could force an abandonment mid-match.

If the weather changes adversely during a match to the point that the referee can no longer guarantee the safety of the players and/or is concerned about the match as a spectacle, he will discuss this with the Premier League Match Manager, who will liaise directly with the Premier League Match Centre.

Of course, should the game be called off before or during the fixture, the game would have to be rescheduled.

Given there are very few free weekends across a football season, fixtures which have to be rearranged typically take place in midweek.

What happens to my bet if a match is postponed?

An unplayed or postponed match will be treated as a non-runner for settling purposes unless it is played within five days of the original scheduled match time.

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