Everyone heads off on holiday hoping for lovely sunny weather, and no rain to spoil their hard-earned couple of weeks in Europe. Whether it’s down to climate change, or just bad luck, it does seem that here in Europe we are experiencing more extreme weather than in any period of history. Heatwaves, forest fires, torrential downpours causing flooding, storms or gales – all of these weather phenomena can hugely impact your holiday, and potentially your health too.
Be Prepared
Don’t just assume that the weather will be warm and settled, and that there are no storms or gales on the way. Most of us take a smartphone on our holiday, and there are loads of websites such as Meteoalarm or Severe Weather Europe which will keep you updated with the latest picture. It is especially important to keep checking these websites if you are planning on going out on the water in a small boat, or climbing or walking in the mountains. Take advice from locals, and listen to the local weather forecasts, even if you don’t speak the language. Weather forecasts are similar across Europe and you will be able to easily understand what is being said by looking at the charts and maps.
Insurance and Extreme Weather
One of the most common consequences of extreme weather is travel disruption. Planes can be cancelled due to ice or snow and flooding can close roads or railways. Often, this sort of disruption is covered under your travel insurance, so if you hurt yourself slipping on ice or have to cancel flights because of weather, your travel insurance will pay out. What many travellers don’t know though is that “natural disasters” aren’t always covered. Earthquakes, tornados and volcanic eruptions are fairly uncommon in Europe, but can and do happen. It is also conceivable that if you are caught in an earthquake or eruption, you may be injured and need medical attention. It is very important to check policies thoroughly, understand what is included and what is not, and take steps to minimise risks and make alternative arrangements when needed.
EHIC Cover and Extreme Weather
The EHIC system does not put any of the conditions and exclusions into the system which private medical policies will. If you have applied for your EHIC before leaving the UK, and have it with you while travelling in Europe, you can use it to access state healthcare in an emergency situation, irrespective of what has caused the injury. Remember that EHIC will only cover state healthcare not treatment in a private hospital, and you may still be expected to make a contribution depending on the country concerned. In situations where a large region or area is affected by the extreme weather, the local healthcare system might be under extreme pressure, and you may have a long wait to be treated. EHIC will also cover you for situations where you knew the weather would be bad before travelling, such as a snowstorm being predicted.