How to prepare and what to do if you’re affected by extreme weather and natural hazards while travelling or living abroad.

About extreme weather and natural hazards abroad

This page has guidance for if you are travelling or living in an area which is prone to extreme weather or may have natural hazards. You may hear the term ‘natural disasters’ to describe these events.

There are many extreme weather events and other natural hazards that might happen around the world.

Some of these events can trigger further hazards, such as landslides after heavy rains, earthquakes or outbreaks of diseases.

Natural hazards and extreme weather events can seriously damage and disrupt a country’s infrastructure, including buildings, roads and bridges, water supplies, power networks, drainage systems and communications. The effects can be more extreme and serious if this infrastructure has not been designed to withstand these events, or to protect you while they are taking place.

Once the event has happened, you should be aware of possible risks relating to damaged buildings or other infrastructure. Be aware that even if the event is far away from where you are, it can still cause disruption, due to loss of power, communications or transport services.

It may take time for airports to re-open and there may be serious shortages of accommodation, food, water and health facilities. It may be harder for you to receive help from humanitarian workers if it is difficult to access the area due to transport infrastructure damage or flooding.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) ability to help British nationals may be limited (sometimes severely) in these circumstances. We cannot ensure your safety and security in another country. The relevant authorities in the country or territory you are in are responsible for your safety and security.

always follow local alerts and emergency advice as soon as they are issued

find out more information about natural hazards that can happen in a country on the relevant country’s travel advice pages

What you can do to prepare

It’s sometimes difficult to predict where, when and at what strength an extreme weather event or natural hazard will strike. For example, tropical cyclones can change direction, change speed or rapidly intensify or weaken.

If you’re travelling to, or living in, a region that is commonly affected by extreme weather or natural hazards, stay alert to the risks. You should:

make sure you have appropriate travel insurance before any travel

find out about local procedures, such as early warning systems and the location of any shelters

keep up to date with FCDO travel advice by signing up to receive email alerts

read our guidance on what to do if you’re affected by a crisis abroad

consider how you, or your travel plans, may be personally affected by an event and what personal preparations you might make

ask your tour operator, airline and travel insurance provider what their terms and conditions are if a natural disaster happens before or during your trip

What you should do if you know a natural disaster is coming

If an extreme weather event is forecast to affect the country you’re in, as well as following the advice in this guide for specific hazards you should:

follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders

evacuate as soon as possible, if evacuation orders are given, and take key documents and necessary medication with you

sign up to receive email alerts for FCDO travel advice

keep in touch with your travel or tour operator and your hotel (where applicable)

monitor local radio, TV and press

check in with family and friends in the UK

If you are a humanitarian aid worker travelling to an area affected by natural disaster, read advice for travelling to areas of humanitarian crisis from TravelHealthPro (the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).

El Niño

El Niño is a natural climate event that can change weather patterns around the world.

It can increase the risk of drought, flooding, heavy rainfall and unusually high temperatures. The effects vary between countries and regions.

El Niño in 2026 and 2027

The current El Niño may increase the risk of unusually dry or wet conditions in some parts of the world.

Check travel advice for your destination for specific risks. Follow local weather warnings and advice.

Tropical cyclones

Every year, tropical cyclones cause considerable loss of life, do immense damage to property and damage transport, electricity and communication infrastructure.

Tropical cyclones are low pressure systems that form over tropical or sub-tropical waters and can vary in speed, size and intensity. Most tropical cyclones occur during specific times of the year when ocean and atmospheric conditions are most favourable for their development.

In the northern hemisphere, including the Caribbean, Atlantic and Far East, most tropical cyclones occur from June to November with a peak in September. However, in the western North Pacific it is not unusual to have the occasional tropical cyclone outside of this period.

In the southern hemisphere, including northern Australia and the southeast African coast, the season usually lasts from November to April. Tropical cyclones occasionally occur in the South Atlantic but this is rare.

Tropical cyclones can cause:

high winds: buildings can be damaged or destroyed; trees, power and telephone lines fall; flying debris becomes dangerous

storm surges: a tropical cyclone can cause a temporary rise in sea level of several metres which can flood coastal areas and damage buildings on the shoreline

very heavy rainfall: this can cause localised or widespread flooding and mudslides

You may be at risk of drowning during a flood. After a flood, you are at increased risk of water-borne diseases like malaria or typhoid fever.

In a tropical cyclone, or if one is expected you should:

monitor the progress of approaching tropical cyclones using websites such as the relevant Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMCs) to your area, and local weather and media reports

follow local alerts and emergency advice as soon as they are issued

evacuate as soon as possible, once you are told to do so, and take key documents and necessary medication with you

shelter in a safe building if you are not told to evacuate

move to a higher level in the building if your place of shelter starts to flood

if you become trapped, call emergency services or use your phone to alert others where you are

climb into attic spaces where you could become trapped

walk or drive through flood water, even if it looks shallow

move through flood water if you are unsure whether it is safe - it may hide other hazards

Find out why tropical cyclones happen and how they are categorised.

TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre)

the World Health Organisation

National Hurricane Center

Read the latest advice on current tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons

Flooding

Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall or as the result of a tropical cyclone or tsunami. Heavy rainfall and flooding can cause devastation and loss of life. It can also severely impact transport infrastructure.

You may be at risk of drowning during the flood. After the flood, you are at increased risk of water-borne diseases like malaria or typhoid fever.

In a flood, or if one is expected you should:

follow local alerts and emergency advice as soon as they are issued

evacuate as soon as possible, if you are told to do so, and take key documents and necessary medication with you

shelter in a safe building if you are not told to evacuate

move to a higher level in the building if your place of shelter starts to flood

call emergency services if you become trapped or use your phone to alert others where you are

climb into attic spaces where you could become trapped

walk or drive through flood water, even if it looks shallow

move through flood water if you are unsure whether it is safe - it may hide other hazards

Find out more about flooding from:

TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre)

the World Health Organisation

Earthquakes

There is a higher risk of earthquakes in certain parts of the world that sit along or near fault lines in the Earth’s crust. Earthquakes can cause loss of life and property, and damage to transport and other infrastructure.

Impacts from an earthquake depend on several factors, including:

the strength of ground shaking at a given location - this depends on the size of the earthquake (magnitude) and the distance from the source of the earthquake source

how long the ground shakes for

the vulnerability of buildings to shaking - this depends on the type of building, the materials used for construction and if earthquake resistant design regulations exist and have been followed

Even if you are not near the centre of an earthquake, you may still experience the effects of it.

If you are in an earthquake prone area, find out what national agencies say about:

earthquake hazard and risk

what to do in the event of an earthquake

In the event of an earthquake, you should:

drop to the ground on your hands and knees

If you are inside a building

not go outside or change location

get under a table if possible

stand against an inside wall away from windows if there is no suitable furniture

turn to your front if you are in bed, covering your head and neck with a pillow

If you are outside

try to stay away from buildings, powerlines and trees

move to higher ground if you are near the ocean

If you are driving

pull over and stop where it is safe to do so, ideally away from buildings, powerlines and trees

Aftershocks

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow larger earthquakes in the same or surrounding areas. They are common and may be felt for weeks or months after an initial earthquake (mainshock). For large earthquakes, the aftershocks may be large enough to cause damage to buildings and infrastructure. Sometimes earthquakes can be followed by larger ones, though this is relatively rare.

Follow local advice regarding evacuation or sheltering after an initial earthquake. In the event of an aftershock, carry out the same actions as before: drop, cover, hold.

More information

Find out more about earthquakes from the:

World Health Organisation

USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) – includes details of the latest information about all significant earthquakes worldwide, including their location, size and the possible impact

Volcanic eruptions

There are many volcanoes located around the world. If a volcano erupts, this can cause loss of life and widespread damage to property, transport and other infrastructure.

The impact of an eruption depends on many things, including:

how close the volcano is to towns and cities

whether there is any warning of the eruption

the style and size of the eruption

weather conditions, such as how wind direction influences ash dispersal and how heavy rain can trigger volcanic mudflows called lahars

ash and gas being released into the air, making it harder to see or breathe

contamination of water supplies

triggering of other natural hazards, such as landslides, tsunami, floods or wildfires

Some volcanoes are monitored by volcano observatories and some have volcano alert levels. If you are in an area where there are volcanoes, try to find out what local or national volcano observatories or other agencies advise. They may have information on:

current volcanic activity

what to do in an eruption

What to do if a volcano erupts where you are

follow instructions from local authorities and evacuate immediately if advised

take your passport, key documents, supplies and medication with you

close windows and turn off ventilation systems if you are indoors

if you are outside, cover your skin and wear a mask or face covering to protect yo…