We’ve all seen the yellow weather warnings issued for the majority of the UK despite the recent spring-like weather, with plenty of ice and snow on the way, as well as the potential for further flooding.
Some parts of the country faced the wettest January since records began this year, with 37% of the predicted rain for the whole month of February already falling. England as a whole has already reached almost 60% of its monthly rainfall average.
Here, Mike England, UK Rental Manager at Daikin Rental Solutions, offers some insight into what we might be facing over the coming weeks, from freezing temperatures to worries for critical care environments.
“The Climate Change Committee has warned that we are not prepared for the effects of climate change as a country, and the bad weather predicted for 2026 is set to be an unwelcome example of how far we still have to go.
“The flood warnings are increasingly worrying, with certain areas of the country experiencing non-stop rain for 40 days in a row! With the potential to leave disaster in its wake, the ongoing icy and wet conditions introduce a whole new set of issues rise – especially within certain sectors.”
Food and Drink
“With the threat of power cuts comes instant stress for those in the food and drink business. Whether you’re a café, restaurant or food-based factory, loss of power means potential loss of goods and, therefore, profit.
“We tend to see an increase in the number of businesses within the food and drink sector dealing with emergency power outages or failures during events like these. In addition to the obvious concerns following loss of power to fridges, freezers and more, there is also the risk of equipment or goods damage in the event of a power surge.
“Ensure you swerve the potential loss of earnings and spoiled goods by investing in a back-up generator, as well as checking all refrigerators and industrial chillers are running at optimal capacity, pre-empting any potential issues before they take hold.
“There are also the potential safety concerns to consider – especially for staff working in kitchens or dealing with factory production lines. A power outage could not only stall production, but also plunge staff into darkness, preventing them from moving around safely or completing required safety checks.
“Plus, with stringent food safety regulations affecting everything that factories, restaurants and cafés do, a sudden change in temperature could lead to non-compliance, with food unable to be stored at the correct temperature at all times. This could put the entire business at risk, as well as the health of the customer base.
“This is why it’s so essential to install emergency lighting, as well as HVAC systems and safety fail safes, ensuring that all staff, products and any potential guests remain protected. Staff should be highly trained in identifying risk levels relating to temperature changes, disposing of any unusable produce whenever necessary.”
Offices
“With only 28% of UK adults adhering to a hybrid working model at the beginning of last year (combining working from home and working in an office), it’s clear that a fair few of us are still heading into our office most days of the week.
“Considering the arctic blast predicted to hit the country sometime soon, offices need to make sure they’re prepped for very cold employees trying to commute through snow, wind and rain.
“The government says that working environments should be kept at a minimum of 16°C, but many of us prefer a much toastier office. 64% of employees refer to their office temperature as uncomfortable, with 42% of office workers wearing coats and scarves indoors.
“15% use heaters at their desks or actually leave their workplace early, due to discomfort caused by temperature. To ensure productivity and encourage staff members to make the soon-to-be treacherous journey into the office, employers need to ensure they are heating the space efficiently during the cold snap.”
Tips for surviving the Beast from the East
Wondering how you can best protect your office and your employees from the coming bad weather? Check out Mike’s five top tips:
- Make sure your thermostat is on a constant, medium temperature to prevent shocking cold pipes and causing issues. Instead of switching between an extreme on-off cycle, keep your office temperature at a constant level that works for the majority.
- Plan ahead as much as possible. Ensure you have emergency lighting and illuminated access routes in place where needed to keep your staff safe during a power cut – especially if you often have staff arriving early or working late.
- Pop a bucket of grit by the front door. No more dangerous slips while crossing the car park at the end of the day! Simply encourage your staff to sprinkle some grit in front of them as you go and prevent those unwanted trips to A&E.
- Check in with your team. Storm conditions can make the daily commute difficult and even dangerous. Encourage your staff to come forward if they’re having issues making it into the office and always consider the potential for remote or hybrid working during bad weather conditions. You should also make sure that everyone is warm enough when sat at their desk. Provide portable heaters, heating pads and more to keep everyone at their optimal temperature.
- Encourage movement. Sitting at a desk for hours isn’t great for circulation and will make your team feel even colder. Encourage everyone to move around at least once every hour – whether that’s a quick walk to the kitchen for a cuppa or a walk-and-talk meeting, instead of a sit-down one.
Snowstorms Incoming: Preparing for Bad Weather in 2026
We’ve all seen the yellow weather warnings issued for the majority of the UK despite the recent spring-like weather, with plenty of ice and snow on the way, as well as the potential for further flooding.
Some parts of the country faced the wettest January since records began this year, with 37% of the predicted rain for the whole month of February already falling. England as a whole has already reached almost 60% of its monthly rainfall average.
Here, Mike England, UK Rental Manager at Daikin Rental Solutions, offers some insight into what we might be facing over the coming weeks, from freezing temperatures to worries for critical care environments.
“The Climate Change Committee has warned that we are not prepared for the effects of climate change as a country, and the bad weather predicted for 2026 is set to be an unwelcome example of how far we still have to go.
“The flood warnings are increasingly worrying, with certain areas of the country experiencing non-stop rain for 40 days in a row! With the potential to leave disaster in its wake, the ongoing icy and wet conditions introduce a whole new set of issues rise – especially within certain sectors.”
Food and Drink
“With the threat of power cuts comes instant stress for those in the food and drink business. Whether you’re a café, restaurant or food-based factory, loss of power means potential loss of goods and, therefore, profit.
“We tend to see an increase in the number of businesses within the food and drink sector dealing with emergency power outages or failures during events like these. In addition to the obvious concerns following loss of power to fridges, freezers and more, there is also the risk of equipment or goods damage in the event of a power surge.
“Ensure you swerve the potential loss of earnings and spoiled goods by investing in a back-up generator, as well as checking all refrigerators and industrial chillers are running at optimal capacity, pre-empting any potential issues before they take hold.
“There are also the potential safety concerns to consider – especially for staff working in kitchens or dealing with factory production lines. A power outage could not only stall production, but also plunge staff into darkness, preventing them from moving around safely or completing required safety checks.
“Plus, with stringent food safety regulations affecting everything that factories, restaurants and cafés do, a sudden change in temperature could lead to non-compliance, with food unable to be stored at the correct temperature at all times. This could put the entire business at risk, as well as the health of the customer base.
“This is why it’s so essential to install emergency lighting, as well as HVAC systems and safety fail safes, ensuring that all staff, products and any potential guests remain protected. Staff should be highly trained in identifying risk levels relating to temperature changes, disposing of any unusable produce whenever necessary.”
Offices
“With only 28% of UK adults adhering to a hybrid working model at the beginning of last year (combining working from home and working in an office), it’s clear that a fair few of us are still heading into our office most days of the week.
“Considering the arctic blast predicted to hit the country sometime soon, offices need to make sure they’re prepped for very cold employees trying to commute through snow, wind and rain.
“The government says that working environments should be kept at a minimum of 16°C, but many of us prefer a much toastier office. 64% of employees refer to their office temperature as uncomfortable, with 42% of office workers wearing coats and scarves indoors.
“15% use heaters at their desks or actually leave their workplace early, due to discomfort caused by temperature. To ensure productivity and encourage staff members to make the soon-to-be treacherous journey into the office, employers need to ensure they are heating the space efficiently during the cold snap.”
Tips for surviving the Beast from the East
Wondering how you can best protect your office and your employees from the coming bad weather? Check out Mike’s five top tips:
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