Storms and high winds: getting your home ready

Understanding storm warnings

The Met Office issues National Severe Weather Warnings for wind, rain, snow, ice, lightning and fog. Each warning has a colour, yellow, amber or red, which reflects both how likely the weather is and how much disruption it could cause. A yellow warning can mean a small chance of serious impacts, or a high chance of minor ones, so read the text of the warning, not just the colour.

The Met Office explains its warnings, which were updated in 2026, on its guide to weather warnings. Named storms are listed on the UK Storm Centre page. The free Met Office app can alert you to warnings for places you choose.

When a storm is forecast

Around the house and garden

• Secure or bring in anything that could be blown about: garden furniture, bins, trampolines, ladders, toys and plant pots.
• Close and fasten doors and windows, especially on the side facing the wind, and large doors such as garage doors.
• Close and bolt loft hatches. Be Ready notes this is especially important if your roof is shallow (a pitch below 30°).
• Park in a garage if you have one, or away from buildings, trees, walls and fences.
• If a chimney stack is tall or in poor condition, move beds away from the area directly beneath it.

Power and phones

• Charge phones, power banks and any backup batteries for medical equipment.
• Check your torch and radio work, and that you know where they are.
• Know who your network operator is and how to report a power cut: 105, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. See our power cut guide.

Plans and people

• Cut down on travel. If you must go, allow extra time, check with your operator first and follow any “do not travel” advice.
• Check whether schools are planning to close, and line up childcare if needed.
• Ask older or less mobile neighbours if they need anything picked up, such as food or medicines.

Thunderstorms have been linked to a rise in asthma symptoms in some people. If you or your child has asthma or hay fever, read the UKHSA advice on thunderstorm asthma and keep inhalers to hand. Your GP or pharmacist can advise on your own treatment.

During the storm

• Stay indoors if you can. If you must go out, keep away from buildings, fences, walls and trees, which can shed debris.
• Use doors on the sheltered side of the house, and close them behind you.
• Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is still going. It can wait.
• Keep internal doors closed as much as possible.
• If you have to drive, take extra care on exposed routes such as bridges and high open roads, and watch for side winds, especially when towing or in a high-sided vehicle. Better still, delay the journey.

If the power goes off and you are thinking of using a camping stove, a generator or a fuel-burning heater, read this first:

After the storm

• Do not touch any electrical or phone cables that are down or hanging loose.
• Keep away from walls, buildings and trees that may have been weakened.
• Check on neighbours and relatives who may need help, including with arranging repairs.
• Photograph any damage before you tidy up, for your insurer.
• Only go up ladders or onto roofs if you are confident it is safe, and never near power lines. For anything more than a quick check, use a professional.
• Storms can damage water pipes as well as power lines. If your water goes off, see our water outage guide.

If you live by the coast

Strong winds can whip up large waves and storm surges, where the sea is pushed onto the coast. Keep well back from sea fronts, harbour walls and cliff edges during a storm, however tempting the view. If you are in a coastal flood risk area, sign up for flood warnings and read our flooding guide.