Residents advised to check travel plans, as strong winds could affect school collections and the evening journey home.
Residents in Newham and across Greater London should prepare for strong winds on Friday 23 October, with a Met Office yellow wind warning running from 10am to 9pm.
The warning includes London boroughs such as Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth and Croydon. Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire are also listed among the areas covered by the wider warning.
People heading to work, travelling between appointments or collecting children should take note that the warning extends through the afternoon and into the evening.
What could happen?
The Met Office says strong winds associated with Storm Austen could cause localised disruption, including longer bus and train journeys, difficulties for high-sided vehicles on exposed roads and bridges, and possible short power interruptions.
These are potential impacts. They do not mean every neighbourhood or transport service will be affected.
The forecasts of gusts reaching around 80mph relate to exposed locations in the South West’s amber warning area, rather than to London.
Before leaving home
Check TfL and your train operator before travelling, including before the return journey. A service running normally in the morning could face different conditions later.
Allow extra time where necessary. If you work early or late shifts, make deliveries or travel between care visits, discuss possible delays with your employer.
Parents and carers should check messages from schools and childcare providers. The weather warning itself does not announce school closures.
A few preparations today
Secure loose items outside while it is safe, including bins, plant pots and garden furniture. Charge phones and power banks, and keep a torch somewhere easy to find.
Check in with older relatives or neighbours who may need help receiving updates.
During strong winds, take care around trees, scaffolding and loose materials. Avoid entering parks or other spaces that authorities have closed, and never drive or walk through floodwater.
Keep checking your local forecast
Warning boundaries and timings can change. Check your postcode on the Met Office warning map and follow updates from your council and transport operator.
For Newham and other London households, the immediate step is straightforward: prepare today and check before travelling tomorrow.
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