Weather in the UK is famously difficult to forecast, and severe weather can have a significant impact on our daily lives, from travel disruption to risks to health and property.
The Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign is designed to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for whatever the weather may bring. By thinking ahead and taking simple steps, everyone can stay safe, healthy, and resilient throughout the year.
What is WeatherReady?
WeatherReady is a year-round public information campaign run by the Met Office in partnership with the Cabinet Office and a wide range of expert organisations from around the UK. Its core aim is to provide up-to-date, expert seasonal advice to help people prepare for and respond to the weather, whether that means protecting your home, looking after your health, or looking out for people in your community.
Having started as a resilience campaign working with frontline responders, the national scheme brings together guidance from trusted partners such as the NHS, RAC, British Red Cross, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and many others. This collaborative approach ensures that the advice is comprehensive, practical, and tailored to the needs of people across the UK.
Snow and ice create difficult travelling conditions.
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 11, 2026
Here are some tips to stay safe and be #WeatherReady on the roads ⤵️https://t.co/Tc9FU3PS4A pic.twitter.com/wYcQdmtrqP
How does WeatherReady help?
1. Practical advice for every season
WeatherReady provides clear, actionable advice for all times of year. In winter, this might include tips on keeping your home warm, preventing burst pipes, or driving safely in icy conditions. In summer, the focus shifts to sun safety, staying hydrated, and protecting against heatwaves. And of course, storminess and heavy rainfall happen at any time of year, so strong advice on simple actions to mitigate the worst impacts of this sort of weather are key. The advice is regularly updated to reflect the latest forecasts and seasonal risks.
2. Preparing homes and businesses
One of the key messages of WeatherReady is the importance of preparing your home or business for severe weather. This could mean checking your roof and gutters before heavy rain, ensuring you have easy to get to supplies in case of power cuts, or making a flood plan if you live in a high flood risk area. The scheme offers checklists to help you take these steps with confidence.
3. Looking after yourself and others
WeatherReady recognises that weather impacts everyone differently. The campaign encourages people to look out for themselves, their families, and their neighbours, especially those who may be more vulnerable to extreme weather, such as older adults or those with health conditions. Advice includes how to keep warm and well in cold weather, how to avoid slips and falls, and how to support others in your community.
4. Expert partner advice
The scheme’s strength lies in its partnerships. By working with organisations like Age UK, the British Veterinary Association, and the Office of Rail and Road, WeatherReady is able to offer specialist advice on a wide range of topics, from looking after friends, family and even pets in different weather conditions to safe travel and flood preparedness. Working with expert partners ensures that the guidance is both authoritative and relevant.
5. Making the most of the weather
While much of WeatherReady’s focus is on staying safe during severe weather, the campaign also encourages people to enjoy the outdoors and make the most of each season. Whether it’s tips for safe walking and cycling, advice on garden maintenance, or ideas for family activities, WeatherReady helps people to embrace the weather in a safe and informed way.
READ MORE: Storm Goretti: Key stats from the multi-hazard event
WeatherReady in action: Real-world benefits
The impact of WeatherReady is clear. According to recent surveys, nearly half of people in the UK have been caught out by severe weather in the past year. The campaign aims to reduce this number by empowering people with the knowledge and tools they need to prepare and respond effectively.
For example, during periods of heavy rain or storms, WeatherReady provides timely advice on travel disruption, flood risks, and how to stay safe at home. In heatwaves, the scheme shares guidance on staying cool, looking after pets, and checking on vulnerable neighbours. By bringing together expert advice and practical tips, WeatherReady helps to minimise the impact of severe weather on individuals and communities.
For Storm Éowyn in January 2025, the UK’s most powerful windstorm for over a decade, post-event surveys suggest that 99% of people within the red warning area were aware of the warnings, and 95% of them took action.
And for Storm Amy – our first storm of the new season back in October 2025 - 92% of people within the amber warning area said they knew about the warning, with 90% of them taking action, such as preparing a power cut kit, staying inside, and securing loose items around their property.
For Storm Amy, post-event surveys also suggest that most people heard about the severe weather warning via the television (54%), with 49% citing social media and 39% the radio.
How to get involved
WeatherReady is designed to be accessible and inclusive. The Met Office encourages everyone to share WeatherReady advice through social media, community groups, and workplaces. Resources such as downloadable posters in a variety of languages, and social media graphics are available for download from the website, making it easy to spread the message of weather preparedness.
WeatherReady is more than just a set of tips, it’s a community-wide effort to build resilience against the challenges of the UK’s ever-changing weather. By staying informed, preparing ahead, and looking out for one another, we can all help to reduce the risks, the load on emergency services and make the most of every season.
For more information and the latest advice, visit the official Met Office WeatherReady webpage.
You can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.
