Preparing for winter in the UK

Prepare for winter by checking how your home stays warm, how you will receive updates and what happens if electricity or travel is disrupted. Keep familiar warm clothing, medicines, essential contacts and safe lighting accessible. Follow current Met Office and local advice, and never use outdoor cooking or heating equipment inside a home.

Check the home before colder weather

A useful winter plan starts with the home you have. Check that doors and windows close as intended, locate the heating controls and make sure everyone knows how to use them. If you rent, report faults to the landlord or agent and ask how repairs are arranged. Do not attempt work on gas appliances, electrical wiring or shared heating systems unless you are qualified and authorised.

Keep important contact details in a place that remains accessible if a phone is flat. Include the energy supplier, electricity network, gas emergency contact, landlord or building manager, GP, pharmacy and someone who can check on the household. If anyone relies on regular deliveries or care visits, ask the provider how disruption is communicated. Share an appropriate contact plan with trusted neighbours or relatives.

Check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are present where required and follow their manufacturer instructions for testing and battery replacement. Know what to do if an alarm sounds. Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled. If an alarm activates, leave the building and call for help. Do not assume that an appliance is safe because it was used without a problem before.

Find the torch, warm clothing, blankets and a safe place for household supplies. Keep exits and hallways clear. Store medicines according to their packaging and ask a pharmacist or clinician about any medicine that has a temperature requirement. Keep phone charging leads with the relevant devices and check that the plug and cable are in good condition.

Use a short household review rather than waiting for a cold spell. Check whether everyone has suitable clothing and footwear, whether pets have a warm resting place and whether vulnerable relatives know how to ask for help. If someone has a health condition affected by cold, ask their clinician what signs require advice and what support services are available locally.

Plan how people will stay warm

Layering familiar clothes can help people stay comfortable when a room is cool. Choose clothing that fits, can be put on easily and does not restrict movement. Keep socks, slippers or suitable indoor footwear where people can find them. A blanket can add warmth while resting, but do not cover a portable heater or place fabric close to an appliance that produces heat.

Use the heating system according to its instructions and arrange maintenance through an appropriate professional. If a boiler or heating system stops working, contact the landlord, service provider or a qualified engineer. Do not remove covers or alter safety controls. If the home becomes uncomfortably cold and someone is unwell, seek medical advice or contact local support services.

For a temporary loss of heating, gather people in a suitable room if that is comfortable and safe. Close doors to rooms that are not in use, while keeping ventilation and escape routes clear. Do not block vents or air bricks to keep warmth in. Avoid using an oven, hob, barbecue, camping stove or generator to heat a room. These devices can cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

People who are older, very young, disabled or living with a long-term condition may need a more specific cold-weather plan. Ask what support the person wants and involve their clinician or care team if health needs are affected. The Priority Services Register can help eligible customers share support needs with energy suppliers and network operators. Ask the supplier what help is available and keep the contact details on paper.

Check local council information about warm spaces, welfare support or help with heating costs if the household needs it. Services and eligibility can change, and arrangements differ between areas. Ask a trusted adviser, local authority or energy supplier for current details. Do not delay urgent medical help while trying to solve a heating problem alone.

Plan food and cooking safely

Choose meals that household members already eat and can prepare with the equipment available. Keep a small supply of shelf-stable foods and a manual tin opener if needed. Consider allergies, dietary requirements, infant feeding and whether the meal needs heating. Rotate foods through normal use so that supplies remain familiar and dates can be checked.

Cooking without mains power needs a safe, suitable appliance and a clear plan. Never use a camping stove, barbecue, charcoal burner or outdoor gas heater inside a home, tent, garage or conservatory. Fuel-burning devices can produce carbon monoxide, even when doors or windows are open. Use only appliances designed for indoor cooking, following their installation, ventilation and fuel instructions.

If electricity is interrupted, keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Follow current Food Standards Agency or local authority advice before deciding whether food is safe. Do not rely on smell or appearance alone. If a medicine needs refrigeration, ask the pharmacist or prescribing clinician what to do and do not guess whether the medicine can still be used.

Hot drinks and meals can help people feel comfortable, but avoid improvised heating methods. Check the rated power of an appliance before using a battery system, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. High-power cooking devices may not suit portable batteries. Never connect a portable power station to household wiring or use an improvised cable to feed a socket.

Plan for heating and electricity interruptions

Winter weather can coincide with a power cut. Learn how to report an outage and identify the correct network operator. In Great Britain, the free 105 service connects customers to their local electricity network. Add the number to the household contact list. If the issue appears limited to the home, only check familiar controls if it is safe, and do not attempt electrical repairs.

Plan for essential powered equipment before an interruption. Ask the equipment supplier or clinician about approved battery options, alarms, charging and what to do if power fails. Keep device instructions and supplier details available. If the equipment is needed for someone’s health and it stops working, follow the clinical plan and seek urgent help when needed. A generic battery recommendation is not enough to confirm medical compatibility.

Portable power banks can support phones and small devices, while power stations have different sizes and output limits. Before relying on a battery, compare the device label with the battery's manufacturer information. Check compatible cables, charging instructions, safe storage and how the battery itself will be recharged. Treat a runtime calculator as an estimate, not a promise that a heater or appliance will run for a particular time.

Keep a torch or battery lamp ready and store it away from heat and moisture. Check its batteries and switch before winter begins. A radio can provide updates if internet service is interrupted, but reception depends on location. Use the broadcaster's own station information and keep an alternative way to hear important notices.

Prepare for winter journeys

Check weather and transport updates before travelling. Snow, ice, wind and heavy rain can change conditions during a journey. Delay travel if it is not necessary and official advice says roads or routes are unsafe. Never drive through floodwater, and do not pass a road closure. Tell someone your route and expected arrival if travel cannot be avoided.

Keep a car kit that matches the journeys you regularly make. It might include a torch, phone cable, warm layer, drinking water, a simple first-aid kit and contact details. Store items securely so they do not move around the vehicle. Check that supplies are suitable for the passengers, including children and pets. Follow the vehicle handbook and keep routine maintenance current.

If your car becomes stranded, follow official road authority and emergency service instructions. Stay with the vehicle only when it is safe to do so and tell someone where you are. Do not run an engine in an enclosed space. If snow blocks the exhaust, clear it only if it is safe and follow official advice. A vehicle is not a substitute for a planned safe place during flooding or severe weather.

Plan for schools, care providers and workplaces to change schedules. Keep contact details current and agree who collects children if normal transport stops. Check how a vulnerable relative will receive a cancelled appointment notice. If a journey is for medical care, contact the provider about alternatives rather than setting off into unsafe conditions without checking.

Check current winter advice across the UK

The Met Office publishes UK weather warnings and seasonal advice. Check both the hazard and the area covered, and return to the service if conditions change. Government and council information can add local steps. The response and support services may differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so use the relevant national and local pages for where you live.

For England, GOV.UK and the local council provide information about services and cold-weather support. In Scotland, consult Scottish Government and local authority advice. In Wales, use Welsh Government and council information. In Northern Ireland, check nidirect and local services. A UK-wide weather warning does not mean every local service has the same arrangements.

Flooding, storms and travel disruption can occur alongside cold conditions. Use the flood warnings service for your nation and follow official instructions. Check Emergency Alerts information so household members know what a phone alert means. If emergency services issue a direct instruction, follow it even if an earlier forecast suggested another outcome.

Winter guides and tools

The guide to keeping warm without heating discusses clothing, room choices and safe household steps when normal heating is unavailable. It does not recommend using outdoor heaters or cooking appliances indoors. For meal planning, the guide to cooking without power explains safe equipment choices and why fuel-burning outdoor devices must stay outside.

The indoor safety guide for camping stoves and heaters focuses on carbon monoxide and fire risks, with advice to use only equipment designed for indoor use as instructed. Drivers can use the winter car kit guide to review supplies for their own routes. The winter storm guide covers warnings, household checks and decisions about travel in severe weather.

Use the household kit builder to organise supplies and print a list for your home. The power cut quiz helps review contacts, lighting and backup arrangements. Neither tool replaces advice from the Met Office, emergency services, a clinician or an equipment supplier.

Common questions

Sources

• Met Office warnings and advice
• Met Office seasonal advice
• NHS carbon monoxide poisoning information
• NHS guidance on when to use 111
• GOV.UK information on Emergency Alerts
• Ofgem Priority Services Register guidance

Sources checked 30 October 2026.

Reviewed by the PrepperReady team, 30 October 2026.