Autumn Storm Preparation: Getting Ready for Storm Season

Storm Season Is Coming

Every autumn, the Atlantic gears up to batter the UK. Named storms bring high winds, heavy rain, coastal surges, and flooding. The Met Office names storms that are expected to have a significant impact — and in recent years, we've been getting more of them and they've been getting worse.

The time to prepare is September, before the first big storm arrives. Not during the storm, when the shops are stripped of batteries and the hardware store is out of sandbags.

Home Preparation

Gutters and Drains

This is the single most impactful thing you can do:

• Clear gutters of leaves, moss, and debris. Blocked gutters overflow and drive water into walls.
• Check downpipes are clear and directing water away from the building.
• Clear drains around your property. Remove leaf build-up from grates and channel drains.
• Check flat roof drains if you have them — these block easily and cause internal leaks.

Do this in September or early October, before the trees drop most of their leaves. Then check again in November.

Windows and Doors

• Check seals around windows and doors. Replace cracked or missing sealant.
• Fix any broken locks or latches — windows can blow open in high winds.
• Secure cat flaps and letter boxes — wind-driven rain finds every gap.
• Consider draft excluders for external doors — they also keep warmth in.

Garden and External

• Secure anything that can blow around. Trampolines, garden furniture, bins, sheds doors — anything not tied down becomes a projectile in 70mph winds.
• Check fences for rot and loose panels. Fix or reinforce weak sections.
• Trim overhanging branches that could fall on your house, car, or power lines.
• Clear leaves from paths and patios regularly to prevent slip hazards.

Power Cut Preparation

Storms cause power cuts. Sometimes for hours, sometimes for days. Be ready:

• Torch in every room — or at least know where one is in the dark
• Fresh batteries for torches and radios
• Power banks charged for phone charging
• Battery or wind-up radio — when the power's out and the internet's down, radio is your information lifeline
• Know how to manually override your electric garage door if you have one
• Fill a flask of hot water when a storm warning is issued — you'll want a brew when the power goes

Flooding

If you're in a flood-risk area:

• Sign up for flood warnings from the Environment Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales, or SEPA (Scotland)
• Know your flood plan — what goes upstairs, how you disconnect electrics, where you go if you need to evacuate
• Keep sandbags or flood barriers accessible — not buried in the back of the garage
• Have important documents in a waterproof bag or stored digitally

Outdoor Kit Preparation

Waterproofs

If you're heading outdoors in autumn, your waterproofs need to be up to the job:

• Wash and reproof jackets and trousers (see our spring gear refresh guide for the method — it's the same process)
• Check seams and zips — a leaking jacket in a storm is worse than no jacket at all (at least you'd have accepted getting wet)
• Test your waterproof trousers — don't wait until the rain starts to discover they've lost their coating

Emergency Kit

Autumn and winter conditions demand a more comprehensive emergency kit:

• Extra warm layers — a puffy jacket that lives in your pack year-round
• Emergency bivvy bag — heat-reflective, weighs nothing, could save your life
• Headtorch with fresh batteries — darkness comes early and quickly
• Fully charged phone and a power bank
• Whistle — six blasts in a minute is the international distress signal in the mountains
• Map and compass — GPS fails when batteries die

Footwear

• Waterproof boots with good ankle support for muddy, slippery trails
• Gaiters if you're walking in deep mud or wet vegetation
• Check sole grip — worn-out treads on wet rock are a broken ankle waiting to happen

Your Car

If you drive to outdoor locations, autumn-proof your vehicle:

• Check tyre tread depth — the legal minimum is 1.6mm, but 3mm is much safer in wet conditions
• Top up screenwash and check wipers
• Keep a torch, blanket, water, and snacks in the car
• Carry a phone charger that works from the cigarette lighter
• Check your breakdown cover is current

Stay Informed

• Met Office weather warnings — check before heading out and monitor during the day
• Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) — detailed forecasts for UK mountain areas
• Yr.no — excellent Norwegian weather service that covers the UK brilliantly
• Local flood alerts — Environment Agency, SEPA, or NRW depending on where you are

Storm-Ready Kit

Having the right gear ready before a storm hits is the entire point. These items cover the basics — light when the power goes, communication when the internet drops, and warmth when the heating fails.

The Bottom Line

Autumn storm preparation isn't glamorous, but it's the difference between riding out bad weather calmly and scrambling around in the dark looking for a torch. A couple of hours of preparation in September buys you peace of mind from October to March.

Check our September and October gear picks for seasonal kit recommendations.