Severe weather: storms, floods, heat and snow
What Met Office and flood warnings mean, and what to do before, during and after a storm, flood, heatwave or snow.
Storm or flood warning: the first 10 minutes
- Check the warning: Met Office (yellow, amber, red) and flood warnings on GOV.UK or Floodline, 0345 988 1188.
- Secure loose things outside and close doors and windows. Charge phones and power banks; check your torch and radio.
- Flood warning? Move people, pets, valuables and documents upstairs, and turn off gas, electricity and water if it's safe.
- Stay indoors during a storm, away from windows. Don't walk, cycle or drive through flood water.
- Call 999 if life is at risk. Check on neighbours who may need help.
In danger? Call 999. Follow instructions from the emergency services, radio and GOV.UK: they come first.
From our guide Severe weather warning: what to do in the first 10 minutes. Official sources: Met Office: Weather warnings guide · GOV.UK: What to do before or during a flood
Start here: the core guides
In reading order.
- Severe weather warning: what to do in the first 10 minutesA Met Office warning, a flood warning, a heat-health or cold-health alert. What the colours mean, and what to do first for a storm, a flood, a…
- Extreme weather: storm, flood and heatwave checklistsThree short UK checklists for before, during and after a storm, a flood and a heatwave, from the Met Office, Environment Agency, GOV.UK Be Ready and…
- Storm and flood preparation in the UKBefore a storm, check Met Office weather warnings, which are yellow, amber or red. Sign up for free flood warnings, or call Floodline on 0345 988…
- Flood ready: before, during and after a floodIf your home is at risk of flooding: sign up for free warnings in England, Wales or Scotland, know what each warning level means, never drive through…
- Do flood barriers work? Sandbags, door barriers, air brick covers and valves comparedThe Environment Agency calls sandbags 'relatively ineffective' next to purpose-made flood products. What door barriers, air brick covers and…
- Flood alerts and flood warnings: what each level means and what to doIn England, the Environment Agency uses three levels. A flood alert means flooding is possible and is usually issued 2 to 12 hours ahead. A flood…
- How to prepare your home for winterA UK winter checklist from Be Ready, UKHSA, the NHS and water companies: boiler and CO alarm, frozen pipes and your stopcock, medicines and food, the…
- Keeping cool in a heatwave without air conditioningKeep a UK home cool without air con: shade sun-facing windows by day, open up at night, use fans only below 35°C, and look after the people most at…
- Heatwave at home: keeping your home and people cool and safeIn a UK heatwave, keep curtains and blinds closed on sunny windows in the day and open windows when it is cooler outside, use electric fans only…
Buy only what helps, and free tools
- Storm tracker
- Storm alerts by email for your area
- What to buy for a flood
- What to buy for a storm
- What to buy for winter
- Flood doors and barriers compared
- Get a quote: flood doors and barriers
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Everything else in weather
- Extreme weather in the UK: heatwaves, storms, floods and wildfiresIn the UK, watch Met Office weather warnings (yellow, amber, red), which cover rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, lightning, ice, extreme heat and fog…
- Storm names 2026/27: the UK list and what the warnings meanThe Met Office, Met Éireann and KNMI published the 2026/27 storm names on 1 September 2026, starting with Austen, Boelo and Chloe. A storm is named…
- Check your flood risk, and the other risks where you liveIn England, use GOV.UK's Check your long term flood risk service to see the risk from rivers, the sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater for…
- What to do after a flood: a calm, step-by-step guideGOV.UK says to check with the emergency services that it's safe to return home, and not to turn on your water, gas or electricity until your utility…
- Storm damage to your home: what to do firstIf a storm damages your home, stay indoors and don't try repairs while it is still blowing. The Met Office says not to go outside to repair damage…
- Cold-Health Alerts: what UKHSA's yellow, amber and red alerts meanCold-Health Alerts are issued for England by UKHSA in partnership with the Met Office, with the core season running from 1 November to 31 March.…
- Clearing snow and ice: your path, the pavement, and a snow day at homeGOV.UK says you can clear snow and ice from pavements yourself, and that it's unlikely you'll be sued or held responsible if someone is injured on a…
- Is school closed for snow? How to check, nation by nationGOV.UK says to check your local council website to find out if a school is closed in England and Wales. mygov.scot points Scottish parents to their…
- Winter home checklist: getting your home ready for the coldGOV.UK Be Ready's advice before cold weather is to have heating and cooking appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, fit a carbon…
Official sources
- Met Office: Weather warnings guide (read 26 Oct 2026 for our guide)
- Met Office: Stay safe in a storm (read 26 Oct 2026 for our guide)
- GOV.UK: Sign up for flood warnings (read 26 Oct 2026 for our guide)
- GOV.UK: What to do before or during a flood (read 26 Oct 2026 for our guide)
Official advice comes first. If a source says something different now, follow the source.