London is in for a tale of two halves this weekend, as the Met Office says Storm Austen will soak the capital through Friday and Saturday before sunshine returns in time for Sunday.
October half-term is here, and families with plans over the next few days will need to time them carefully. The wet and windy spell the storm brought in on Friday is expected to linger into Saturday, with heavy rain forecast through the morning and early afternoon and temperatures hovering around 13C.
By Sunday, though, the picture changes dramatically. The Met Office is forecasting considerably brighter conditions, with sunshine across much of the city — a welcome payoff for anyone who has spent the week watching the rain.
Friday and Saturday: umbrellas essential
Friday has been the wettest and windiest day of the spell so far. Storm Austen tracked across the country bringing heavy rain and strong winds, and the Met Office says rain totals of 20 to 30mm are possible in many areas nationally. For Londoners, that has meant spells of heavy rain alongside gusty winds before conditions begin to ease later in the day.
Saturday keeps the umbrella handy. Showers and further rain are expected through the weekend, and although temperatures are forecast to reach highs of around 16C at times, the strong winds will make it feel considerably cooler — closer to the low teens for anyone caught out in the open.
It has already been a disruptive week for weather-related travel. Heavy rain overnight forced two lanes of the M25 to close between Enfield and Potters Bar in the early hours, and we have been following the storm’s progress live as gusts hit 70mph. Anyone heading out on Saturday should allow extra time and check the latest forecasts before setting off.
Sunday: the payoff
Families who can hold their plans until Sunday will be rewarded. The rain is expected to clear later in the weekend, with considerably brighter conditions and spells of sunshine across much of the city.
If Sunday is your day, it is also worth remembering that the football will draw crowds to west London: Chelsea host Tottenham on Saturday, and supporters heading to Fulham Broadway will need to factor in planned closures on the District line around the match. For a quieter Sunday, the parks, the river walks and London’s museums — many with free half-term programmes — will be at their best in the brighter weather.
Saturday does not have to be a write-off, either. The rain is expected to come in spells rather than in one unbroken deluge, so a morning trip to an indoor attraction — the museums of South Kensington, the aquarium or the Tower of London itself — followed by a drier afternoon could still work out. Just dress for the wind: at 16C in gusts, it will feel far cooler than the thermometer suggests.
Our hour-by-hour forecast breakdown has the full detail on how the storm is playing out across the capital today.
What to know for next week
The brighter Sunday comes with a warning for the days after. Burnt Oak station on the Northern line closes for two weeks from Monday 26 October for step-free access works, so commuters and families travelling during the second half of the half-term break should plan their journeys in advance.
The yellow wind warning that accompanied Storm Austen runs until 9pm on Friday, and while the worst of the rain is expected to clear over the weekend, the Met Office is already tracking Storm Boelo, which could bring further disruption, power cuts and travel problems over the weekend. Keep an eye on the forecast — and keep the umbrella close.
