A tree down in Tufnell Park Road [Linda Grove]

The sun may have come out now, but all day Storm Eunice has been battering Islington. Businesses shut their shops, shutters came down early, and trees and branches were flying all over the borough.

Earlier today, Islington Council advised everyone to stay indoors after the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for London, effective between 10am-3pm today (Friday).

The public was put on notice of “flying debris resulting in danger to life, damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off”.

Nationally, power lines were expected to be “brought down, roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations, and power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage”.

Gusts of wind as strong as 70mph forced many people to stay home but there was also shelter from the storm after some businesses and shops offered shelter to those brave enough to venture outside.

Shelter from the storm

Earlier today the King’s Head Theatre offered anyone passing by a safe place to hide from the battering winds and even first aid should they have been injured by passing debris.

Football game postponed due to wind

Camden and Islington United football club postponed their football match, due to take place tomorrow. They have rescheduled the game for tomorrow.

A tree has fallen down in Loraine Estate in Holloway Road.

Another tree has come down by the Little Angel Theatre in Dagmar Passage, Angel. Islington’s Health Chief councillor Nurullah Turan said: “I feel sad that we are losing beautiful trees as a result of severe winds. Please stay safe.”

A fallen tree by Little Angel Theatre                                                                                                     credit: @Cllr_NTuran

Finsbury Park wasn’t immune to the strong winds either, with large branches falling from trees and sweeping the pavements under the bridge by the train station.

Fallen branches underneath Finsbury Park Bridge

Cemeteries are closed

Cemeteries across the borough have been closed due to safety concerns. Islington council are advising people to visit the Islington and Camden Cemetery Services website.

Rubbish to be collected tomorrow

Islington has advised people to put their bins out tomorrow instead of today as rubbish services will only resume tomorrow.

It has also given people a telephone number to call should anyone have concerns about people rough sleeping outside in the storms.

The council has also closed all parks and playgrounds until it’s ‘safe to reopen’.

Cables in Barnsbury Square wobbling precariously

Neighbourhood group Barnsbury Square posted a video to their Twitter feed of cables stretching across the square that were shaking powerfully.

Fallen bikes and twigs in Clerkenwell

A number of fallen e-bikes were spotted blown over by the wind in Rosebery Avenue, with twigs collected underneath.

Fallen e-bikes on Rosebery Avenue

Freightliners Farm closes for the day

Freightliners Farm, in Lower Holloway, has closed for the day due to “extreme high winds”. A spokesman for the farm wrote on their twitter feed “Storm Eunice is exerting its force” and posted a video of trees blowing very powerfully.

Businesses in Upper Street shut up shop

Businesses along Upper Street are locking the doors and drawing the shutters down as storm Eunice whips leaves and plastic bags into the air outside the Town Hall. Michelle Gandy, of Dansk Flowers, is shutting up shop at 3 pm.

“We don’t live nearby so we’re worried about getting home, and worried about the flowers being blown away. We feel in danger here [next to the trees in St Mary’s Church] – we’re quite exposed and big branches have been falling off the trees,” she said.

The shutters on the Dansk Flower shop are half drawn down, with a sign reading: “Due to the storm weather we have closed early. Re-open Saturday 20th Feb 8 am. Stay safe.”

Dansk Flowers closes its shutters at lunchtime

Opposite, Petit Bateau clothes shop is shut. “Due to the extreme weather conditions we are closed for the day (18/02/2022) we apologise for any inconvenience” reads a printed note on the door.

Crisis Charity shop is also closed, along with Kobkun Thai Therapy & Spa.

Enrique Yambuka, of Carnival City card shop, is keeping his shop open but has had to bring his pavement sign inside and pull the doors closed. “I had to move the stand inside because it was slammed down by the wind. I was astounded, it’s crazy out there,” Mr Yambuka said.

A sign outside a shop in Upper Street explaining why it’s shut

Rail closures and severe delays on the Overground

Some overground services at Highbury & Islington station are grinding to a halt with only certain lines in operation. The service to Clapham Junction has been cancelled thanks to an object caught on the overhead electric wires.

A message from TfL is being displayed: “Suspended Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction due to multiple obstruction on the tracks and overhead wires.”

Signs at Highbury and Islington Station

London Overground services across the borough and beyond are running a reduced service with some major line closures thanks to Storm Eunice.

An Islington Tribune dispenser blown over