Londoners should prepare for the strongest winds of Storm Austen on Friday afternoon, with gusts of up to 47mph forecast to hit the capital between 2pm and 7pm.
Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, is expected to bring unsettled conditions with heavy rain and increasingly powerful winds. Heavy rain is expected to arrive overnight on Thursday and continue into the early hours of Friday morning.
According to the latest Met Office hourly forecast for London, wind gusts in central London will reach 27mph by midnight, increasing to 35mph by 3am. Although winds are expected to ease slightly during the morning, conditions will become much windier during the afternoon — reaching 37mph by 1pm, 45mph at 2pm and peaking at 47mph at 4pm, before gradually easing through Friday evening.
Weather warnings in force
The Met Office has issued wind warnings for parts of southern England. An amber warning covering several southern coastal areas is in force between 3am and 10am on Friday, with gusts of 60mph to 70mph possible there.
We reported yesterday on the yellow wind warning for London ahead of Storm Austen’s arrival — read our earlier Storm Austen report here. The timing update sharpens the picture: Friday’s evening commute is likely to be the most difficult period.
How to prepare
Check your travel before you leave on Friday — TfL services and overground routes can be disrupted by high winds, and falling debris is a risk in strong gusts. Secure garden furniture, bins and anything loose outdoors, and allow extra time for journeys. If you must travel during the peak of the storm, keep a safe distance from scaffolding, hoardings and trees.
Conditions should ease by Friday night, but the Met Office will update its forecast if the track of the storm changes.
