Rationale:
Three of our walks were cancelled because of severe weather in the winter of 2024-25. We can expect this to happen more in the future with the impact of climate change. For this reason, the group adopted a policy, to provide clarity for walk leaders and the committee when making these decisions.
Definitions of weather warnings:
Yellow Warning: Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations. Many are issued when it is likely that the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel in a few places. Many people may be able to continue with their daily routine, but there will be some that will be directly impacted and so it is important to assess if you could be affected. Other yellow warnings are issued when the weather could bring much more severe impacts to the majority of people but the certainty of those impacts occurring is much lower. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.
Amber Warning: There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. You should think about changing your plans and taking action to protect yourself and your property. You may want to consider the impact of the weather on your family and your community and whether there is anything you need to do ahead of the severe weather to minimise the impact.
Red Warning: Dangerous weather is expected and, if you haven’t already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.
(source: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/guides/warnings - retrieved 12th January 2025)
Scope:
The policy applies to all Berkshire Walkers walks, including on trips away.
The policy also applies to all weather warnings issued by the Met Office: for rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, lightning, ice, extreme heat and fog.
General:
Walk leaders and the Walks Co-ordinator have a shared responsibility to dynamically manage the situation if extreme weather is expected and to proactively check for warnings.
What should be done in the event of a:
Yellow warning:
Most walks affected by yellow warnings should be able to go ahead.
However, walk leaders should still consider the nature of the warning (snow, wind, rain etc) and consider whether it may be appropriate to adjust the route. For example, a walk in heavy rain may wish to avoid a lengthy riverside stretch in case of flooding; or a walk in high winds may wish to avoid exposed hill or cliff tops. If it is not possible to do this, cancellation should also be considered.
Cancellation should also be considered if there is concern that return transport from the end of the walk will not operate and walkers will be stranded. In such cases, the walk leader should consider the weather warning in conjunction with any specific advice issued by train/bus companies, local councils, or the Highways Agency.
Ahead of a walk affected by a yellow warning, walk leaders should keep in mind the possibility that the yellow warning could be escalated to an amber or red warning, and should proactively check the forecast for any changes on a regular basis.
The walk leader, the Walks Co-ordinator or another committee member should consider alerting potential attendees to the warning (via e.g. a comment in the Meetup event, or a message in the WhatsApp group for a trip) and offer appropriate advice on clothing etc.
Amber warning:
Some walks affected by amber warnings may be able to go ahead.
However, if a walk is affected by an amber warning the walk leader and the Walks Co-ordinator (or another committee member if they are unavailable) should actively discuss and consider whether it is safe for the walk to proceed. As above, considering whether return transport will run should be part of that discussion.
The walk leader should also actively consider adjusting the route (as above) or moving the start time, if this would avoid the start or finish time of the amber warning. In rare circumstances, the Walks Co-ordinator (acting in consultation with the rest of the committee) has the power to overrule a walk leader to cancel a walk.
The walk leader, the Walks Co-ordinator or another committee member should alert potential attendees to the warning (via e.g. a comment in the Meetup event, or a message in the WhatsApp group for a trip), to warn them of potential cancellation and offer appropriate advice on clothing etc.
Red warning:
All walks affected by red warnings should be automatically cancelled.