Posted: 19 January 2026
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Weathering the storm: Construction risks
For Intermediaries only
The unpredictability of the British weather can be a major headache for the construction sector, with everything from storms and snow to extreme temperatures potentially adding cost and delay to a project. Having a robust risk management strategy in place can help to minimise disruption and expense, whatever the weather.
Weather risk is a common problem in construction. Research by Aggreko(1) found that 92.6% of construction managers working on UK and European projects had experienced difficulties in the past year due to changing weather conditions. Of those who had run into problems, just over three-quarters (75.2%) said extreme weather conditions caused major delays, resulting in missed deadlines and/or financial penalties.
Weather issues
Whether it’s heavy rain, snow or extreme temperatures, the weather can seriously disrupt construction activities. Sites can quickly turn from busy workplaces to giant mud baths, with flooding and waterlogging causing erosion and destabilisation of roadbeds and excavation pits.
Too much rain or cold weather can make roads impassable and hinder enabling works, resulting in delayed timelines but also causing additional expense for temporary repairs and remedial work to get the project back on track. As material costs have risen significantly over the past few years, these additional expenses are never welcome.
These weather conditions can also cause safety issues. A muddy, waterlogged site increases the likelihood of accidents such as slips and trips. Similarly, if water gets into equipment, there’s a risk of electrical short circuits or components failing altogether, with serious implications for worker safety.
Even where there’s no damage to a construction site, a spell of bad weather can have a significant impact on productivity and cost. Construction workers are known for being hardy but having to work in rain and storms will slow and even stall activity.
Bad weather can also be bad news for materials. Waterlogged timber and steel can deteriorate quickly, especially where they are stored outside. Replacing materials is expensive and is likely to come straight off the bottom line on any construction project financial budget.
Managing weather risk
It’s impossible to stop the weather but a robust approach to risk management can help ensure its effects are kept to a minimum during a construction project. Any risk strategy should factor in the potential effects of the weather at the planning stage but also during construction.
Planning stage
Before a construction project begins, it’s essential to identify any potential weather-related risks and put appropriate mitigation measures in place.
This should include:
Conduct a detailed site assessment
This identifies any areas that may be susceptible to weather-related issues such as flooding, erosion or wind damage. Understanding where these risks are, and the nature of them, means they can be factored into the construction project, for instance determining routes for any access roads or having suitable protection available if there is bad weather.
Develop a weather contingency plan
A weather contingency plan should outline procedures for dealing with adverse weather conditions. This ensures everyone working on the construction project is prepared if bad weather does occur, helping to minimise additional cost and construction delays.
Build flexibility into the project
Factoring in some additional time to accommodate weather-related delays helps ensure work is completed to deadlines and that no additional risks are taken if the weather does deteriorate.
Source accurate weather forecasting
Knowing what’s coming weather-wise can help to ensure appropriate risk mitigation measures are put in place and any delays are kept to a minimum. It can also be useful to look at historic weather patterns to give an indication of what to expect.
During construction
Having contingency plans in place will help to ensure a construction project is well prepared for extreme weather events. The following tips will help to keep everything running smoothly once work is underway.
Plan with the weather
Rather than fighting the weather conditions, planning construction activities around anticipated weather conditions can help to reduce downtime. This could include prioritising tasks that are least affected by the weather during unfavourable periods – and taking advantage of the good weather to do the more weather-critical jobs.
Do the groundwork
Carry out prevention work where a site risk assessment has identified potential hotspots for weather damage. This might include stabilising slopes and embankments with retaining walls or vegetation to prevent erosion; using silt fences and sediment basins; or putting adequate drainage in place to reduce the risk of waterlogging and flooding.
Keep everyone informed
Unpredictability is a feature of weather in the UK so it’s sensible to keep everyone on the project up-to-date with weather forecasts, the potential impacts, and the contingency measures in place. By doing this, everyone will be well-prepared and risk management will become embedded across the project.
Minimise exposure
Even the most accurate weather forecasters can be caught out so reduce risk by controlling exposure during a construction project. Monitoring and limiting the number of uncovered or exposed areas at any one time will help keep potential damage to a minimum.
Protect the project
Whether it’s the site, materials or equipment, ensure it’s protected in the event of bad weather. Use tarps, covers or temporary shelters to protect exposed work areas, materials and electrical equipment from rain or wind damage.
Inspect the site
Always inspect the site after rainfall or bad weather to understand the extent of any damage. It may be necessary to mark any problem areas with bollards or stop traffic using particularly badly affected areas to help avoid making the conditions worse. Also make sure any exposed electrical equipment is checked before it’s used again.
Supporting you – whatever the weather
Our range of products are only available through insurance brokers. Speak to your insurance broker today about our construction insurance products.
While we can’t guarantee the perfect weather for your construction project, we can help you stay protected, whatever the conditions. As well as insurance cover that can be tailored to your needs, our team of construction experts can help you with advice and guidance on managing the risks associated with your project.
