Weather forecast
The Met Office has issued a Red Weather Warning for London between 10am and 3pm today, causing significant disruption and dangerous conditions due to extremely strong winds. An Amber Weather Warning will remain in place until 9pm tonight.
Storm Eunice could cause damage to homes, power cuts and flying debris, resulting in danger to life.
Travel
People are advised to stay indoors and not to travel. If your journey is absolutely essential, check which public transport services are running before you travel at Transport for London or National Rail Enquiries. The Met Office has these tips for drivers.
Motorists are advised to avoid Wimbledon Broadway around the junction with Russell Road, after part of the roof duct came off the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Drivers, pedestrians and Tube passengers are advised to avoid the area around South Wimbledon Underground Station. The junction of Kingston Road, Morden Road, Merton Road and Merton High Street was closed at 3pm due to debris falling from a building in Morden Road. Traffic is being diverted and South Wimbledon Tube Station on the Northern Line is closed.
UPDATE 10:30 AM 19 February: The site area has been declared safe.
South Wimbledon Station and most of the roads around the site are now back open, except Griffiths Road which is still closed off for now.
Fallen trees
If you spot a fallen tree or any rubbish knocked over by the wind, report it here.
Our officers and idverde are out doing tree inspections to check if any trees have been damaged by the wind or are at risk of falling.
Park closures
People are advised to stay indoors and not to visit parks or children’s playgrounds.
All sporting fixtures which were due to be played in parks this weekend have been cancelled.
Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon closed to the public at 12.45pm.
At 1pm, all council parks which have gates are being closed for safety reasons.
Morden Hall Park, which is run by the National Trust, is closed all day today and may open late tomorrow (Saturday) so that safety checks can be carried out. Check their website for updates.
UPDATE:10:30AM Saturday 19 February: We’re pleased to confirm that all the parks we had to close yesterday are now re-opened. However, please take care and avoid areas that are cordoned off. We will also have extra Veolia crews out over the weekend to clear the rubbish the storm left in its wake, and we are inspecting various buildings for safety today. Thanks for your patience while this work happens.
Cemetery closures
UPDATE 24 February: Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery in Morden, Gap Road Cemetery in Wimbledon and London Road Cemetery in Mitcham are now open again.
Recycling and rubbish collections
Recycling and rubbish collections are proceeding while it remains safe to do so. If your scheduled collection is missed today, please leave your bins out and Veolia will empty them as soon as they can.
As soon as your wheelie bins and recycling boxes have been emptied, please bring them in to avoid them from being blown onto the road.
Garth Road
The Garth Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre in Morden is now open again.