Extreme weather needs the same level of planning as safety, logistics and rising costs
Extreme weather has become a regular risk on UK construction sites, and it needs the same level of planning as health and safety, logistics or rising material costs.
We know from reports that this year’s heatwaves delayed concrete pours and asphalt curing on some major projects. Recent research found that 99% of project managers reported heatwaves affecting delivery, productivity and wellbeing.
It’s not just heat. Winter brings its own threats. Storms, heavy rain and hard frosts can stop work just as easily.
Yet despite growing evidence, sites still often just react when temperatures rise, or heavy rain falls, rather than plan for what is now a clear risk.
Firms should be building hot weather resilience into their plans now. Those that do will have more options available when the mercury rises than those that perennially react on the fly.
Lessons from hot places
There are useful lessons from countries where higher temperatures have been a longstanding reality. We work with companies across the world at Procore and, in places like Australia and Southern Europe, measures such as shaded rest areas and mandatory hydration breaks are commonplace.
Data-driven heat-risk assessments have become standard aspects of site management too, used to reorganise work around weather conditions by scheduling more physically demanding activities during cooler hours and adjusting shift patterns.
These approaches aren’t just keeping workers safe, although that remains a priority concern, of course. They also reduce the likelihood of costly disruptions by making sure builders can keep building.
Storm clouds brewing
Heat may have dominated headlines this summer, but it’s only one part of a much broader challenge. Meteorologists continue to monitor the potential influence of the El Niño climate pattern on global weather.
Previously, El Niño events have been associated with wetter and stormier periods in parts of Europe, and this year’s appears to be the strongest on record.
In these situations, ground conditions can deteriorate rapidly, resulting in delayed deliveries and planned activities needing to be rescheduled at short notice. When heavy rain or storms arrive, contingencies already built into the programme make the difference.
The risk presented by El Niño only became apparent in April 2026, which shows how planning for a wider range of weather scenarios is becoming more important as seasonal conditions become harder to predict.
Can tech help?
To have a fighting chance against extreme weather, construction teams need access to live site and project information collected in one place.
Digital project management tools give teams greater oversight of schedules, resources, plans and site conditions, making it easier to assess the potential impact of weather events before they occur and take steps accordingly. That might mean identifying the activities most vulnerable to heat, high winds or heavy rainfall and making sure they are taking place at the most opportune time in a project schedule.
Examples include flagging when weather is a risk to concrete pours or crane operations several days in advance, or adjusting delivery schedules before disruption reaches the site. Increasingly, contractors are also using weather intelligence tools that combine forecast data with project schedules, allowing teams to understand not just what weather is coming, but what it means for the work planned that day.
More effective planning also helps create a safer construction site. Site leaders can identify welfare risks and ensure workers have the resources and support needed to operate in challenging conditions.
Plan for the inevitable
Construction has adapted successfully to new or growing risks throughout its history, whether driven by regulation, technology or cost factors. Extreme weather is likely to be another of those defining shifts.
Technology alone won’t solve the problem, but it can help project teams understand how upcoming weather is likely to affect work and act before disruption reaches the site. In doing so, contractors can reduce the risk of delays and avoidable rework.
Disruption is inevitable as climate change continues to make weather patterns less predictable. But being better informed can help contractors make the right decisions to keep projects on track – and protect their workforce – when the next heatwave or storm does arrive.
Lee Miles is general manager for EMEA at Procore
