Heathrow passengers flying on Friday 23 October are being advised to check their flight status, as Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, brings strong winds across southern England.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering Greater London and Heathrow from 10am to 9pm on Friday, forecasting a spell of strong winds, touching gales at times, with gusts of around 45 to 55mph. The warning rates the likelihood of impact as high, though the severity as moderate, and notes that with many trees still in leaf there is potential for some power outages and travel disruption. It is a step down from the amber warning covering Cornwall and parts of Devon and Dorset, where the storm is expected to be most severe.
London Now, reporting on the storm's impact on the capital's airports, says that although widespread flight cancellations have not been confirmed at Heathrow, passengers could face disruption if strong winds affect aircraft movements during the day. Heathrow has advised passengers to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates, rather than announcing any blanket change to its schedule. The Met Office has forecast heavy rain for much of Friday at Heathrow, with conditions expected to clear by the evening.
Greater London is not included in the amber warning area, meaning the most severe winds are expected to stay further west and south, but gusts at the top end of the forecast range could still affect taxiing, take-off and landing at the airport during the day.
The disruption comes as storms continue to move across the UK this autumn. A second system, named Storm Boelo, is forecast to bring further strong winds to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man over the following weekend.
Passengers flying to or from Heathrow on Friday should check their flight status with their airline before setting off, and build in extra time for their journey to the airport in case of weather-related delays on the roads or rail network.
Sources: Met Office and London Now.
What this means for your journey: if you are travelling to Heathrow on Friday, check your flight status before you leave and allow extra time; see our /public-transport/ guide for rail and bus options if road conditions are affected by the wind and rain.