By Clare Yates
7 min read
Many travellers don't realise that one of the biggest benefits of travel insurance starts before they even leave home. Buying cover as soon as you book your trip could help protect you financially if unexpected events force you to cancel or change your plans.
From heatwaves and wildfires to storms and flooding, extreme weather potentially influenced by climate change is disrupting travel more often than many holidaymakers realise. That’s why arranging travel insurance early can be so important if your plans change before you even travel.
Weather-related travel disruption is becoming more common
From heatwaves across Europe to wildfires in Greece, and floods in several popular holiday destinations, weather disruption is now a regular feature of the news.
We have also seen major disruption closer to home. As the Guardian reported, in 2022 a UK heatwave was so extreme that part of the runway at London Luton Airport melted, leading to flight cancellations. More recently, in August 2025 during Storm Floris, 68 flights from UK airports were cancelled in a single day, including 12 at Aberdeen Airport, which was the worst affected.
Travellers are increasingly facing cancelled flights, closed airports, flooded roads and last-minute changes to itineraries, with little warning.
Heatwaves, wildfires and record-breaking weather events in 2025
Extreme heat and wildfires have been a major issue in recent years. 2025 was particularly severe, with major fires across Europe and significant wildfire events in the United States, including around Los Angeles. The Los Angeles wildfire disaster caused 30 deaths and total estimated damage of around $53 billion, with about $40 billion insured.
Southern Europe was also heavily affected, with widespread damage to land, infrastructure and transport routes.
The European Commission says the 2025 fire season was the worst on record for the European Union. Satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System showed 1,079,538 hectares (roughly the size of Cyprus) were burned across multiple EU countries.
Is climate change causing extreme weather and travel disruption?
Wildfires and heatwaves like these are becoming more common, but scientists are cautious about linking any single event directly to climate change. What they do agree on is that it is making extreme weather more likely and more intense.
The BBC notes that while “it is difficult to link individual extreme weather events to climate change”, scientists are clear that it’s making heatwaves “more frequent and more intense”.
Copernicus data shows Europe has warmed by around 0.56°C per decade over the past 30 years.
The BBC also reports that the UN expects global temperatures to remain at or near record levels in the coming years, with the 11 hottest years on record all occurring since 2015 and another record year “likely” before 2031.
While no single event can be blamed entirely on climate change, the direction of travel is clear. Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and more disruptive.
How climate change is affecting holidays and travel plans
As we’ve seen, climate change is not just an environmental issue. It’s increasingly becoming a travel issue. For holidaymakers, this can mean:
Greater risk of travel disruption.
More frequent flight delays and cancellations.
Increased health risks from extreme heat.
Temporary closure of tourist attractions and transport routes.
Higher chances of needing to change plans at short notice.
None of this means you should stop travelling. It simply means it's more important than ever to prepare for the unexpected.
Will travel insurance cover extreme weather and wildfires?
This is one of the most common questions travellers ask when headlines are filled with wildfires, storms, flooding or heatwaves. The answer is that it depends on your policy and the circumstances.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), if your flight or accommodation is cancelled due to extreme weather, you should first seek a refund from the airline, accommodation provider or tour operator. If you paid by credit card, you may also have other ways to recover costs.
Travel insurance may help if your policy includes cover for trip disruption, cancellation or natural disasters. In those cases, you may be covered if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to an unexpected event.
The ABI also notes that if you become ill or injured because of extreme weather while abroad, your travel insurance may cover medical treatment and related expenses, subject to the policy terms.
As always, the detail matters. Cover varies widely between insurers, so it’s important to check your policy before you travel. If you are unsure, ask your insurer how weather-related disruption is treated.
Tip: If you have travel plans, check and follow the latest foreign travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Travelling against that advice is likely to invalidate your travel insurance.
What to look for on your travel insurance policy
It’s worth taking a few minutes to understand how your policy would respond if a natural disaster affects your trip, as the details can vary a lot between providers.
Start by checking the sections that deal with cancellations and cutting your trip short. This is where you will usually find cover for situations involving severe weather.
Think about the two main situations where cover might apply:
If something happens before you travel and you need to cancel your trip.
If something happens while you are away and you need to come home early or change your plans.
Travel policies may respond to severe weather in a number of ways, depending on the circumstances. This can include:
Costs if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to your destination.
Extra accommodation and transport if you cannot stay where you originally booked.
Getting you home early or extending your stay if extreme weather disrupts your return.
Missed connections or trips if your plans are affected.
Emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you are injured or become ill.
Delays caused by severe weather conditions.
Emergency evacuation if you need to be moved to safety.
If you have cruise cover included in your policy, you may be covered for reasonable extra travel and accommodation costs if severe weather stops you reaching your cruise departure port in time.
One final thing to check is your cancellation limit. If your holiday costs more than the maximum amount your policy will pay, you could still be responsible for the difference. For example, if your cover limit is £3,000 but your trip costs £5,000, you would need to pay the remaining £2,000 yourself.
What travel insurance does not cover
Travel insurance is not a safety net for every situation. You’ll find that policies will typically not cover:
Events already known about when you buy the policy.
Travelling against official government advice.
Costs recoverable from airlines, hotels or tour operators.
Claims outside policy terms and conditions.
Always read the policy carefully so you understand what is and is not included.
Why buying travel insurance early matters
One of the biggest misconceptions about travel insurance is that you only need it just before you travel. In fact, many insurers recommend buying cover as soon as you've booked your trip. That's because cancellation cover often starts from the date you buy the policy – not your departure date.
If severe weather affects your destination, a family emergency forces you to cancel or another covered event prevents you from travelling, having insurance in place early could make all the difference.
If you wait until just before departure, anything that has already happened may not be covered.
Book your holiday and buy travel insurance right away
Booking a holiday is exciting. Travel insurance is less exciting, but it could be one of the most important things you sort out.
With extreme weather and travel disruption becoming more common, leaving insurance until the last minute could leave you exposed when you need protection most, whether it’s a wildfire, flooding or a storm that changes your plans.