Wind and weather guides
Plain guides to wind limits for temporary structures and to the weather that affects UK outdoor events: ice, snow, rain, heat, fog, thunderstorms and flood. Every figure is attributed to the source it comes from. Your own wind limit is on your structure's certificate or in its manual.
- Wind limits for inflatables and bouncy castles
HSE and PIPA say no inflatable should be used in winds or gusts above 24mph. What the rule means for bookings, how often to measure and where a forecast fits.
- Wind limits for marquees and tents
A marquee's wind limit comes from its design certificate, not a general figure. What MUTA guidance says about design wind load and wind management plans.
- Wind limits for stage roofs, screens and temporary structures
How wind limits work for stage roofs, screens and temporary structures: the IStructE design gust, why sheeted roofs differ and example action levels.
- Wind limits for gazebos and market stalls
No national wind limit exists for gazebos and market stalls. What council market policies say, with the gust figures and weights they set.
- Gusts or mean wind: which number to plan around
Forecasts give a mean wind speed and a gust speed. Why structure limits are gust limits, how load rises with the square of speed and what to compare.
- Ice and frost on event sites
Air frost, ground frost and black ice from Met Office definitions, with HSE advice on gritting walkways and where a forecast fits.
- Heavy rain and waterlogging on event sites
The Met Office counts rain as heavy above 4mm an hour. What MUTA says about saturated ground and anchors and what HSE says about wet surfaces.
- Heat at outdoor events
Met Office heatwave thresholds of 25°C to 28°C by county and UKHSA advice for events on water, shade and timing in hot weather.
- Fog at outdoor events
The Met Office defines fog as visibility under 1,000m and dense fog as under 100m. What that means for event sites and where a forecast helps.
- Snow on marquees and event sites
MUTA says very few fabric structures can take a snow load and that they should be heated to 12°C when snow is possible. HSE advice on gritting.
- Thunderstorm risk at outdoor events
Writing a lightning policy from PLASA guidance: plan for forecast storms, set action distances and know where people can shelter. A forecast is not detection.
- Flood warnings near an event site
What an Environment Agency flood alert, flood warning and severe flood warning mean for an event in England, what they leave out and where to sign up.
- How to write a wind management plan
What UK guidance says a wind management plan should hold: a limit for each structure, action levels, who decides, how wind is measured and a log.
- Christmas market winter weather checklist
Wind, ice, snow, fog, rain and flood for Christmas markets: what council market policies, MUTA, HSE, ADIPS and the Met Office say to plan for.
- Met Office weather warnings for event organisers
What yellow, amber and red Met Office warnings mean for an outdoor event. Each colour combines impact and likelihood, so no colour means a set wind speed.
- Market adverse weather policies: what councils write
What council market adverse weather policies say about gust limits, Met Office warnings, decision times, staffing, pitch fees, snow and heat.
- How to read a Met Office forecast for an event
What the Met Office forecast table means: wind speed and gust, chance of rain, visibility, hourly and three hourly steps and how accuracy drops with range.