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The impact of storms on our canals

Find out how extreme weather affects our ageing and fragile network – and the work we're doing to react, repair and restore our canals this winter.

The threat of extreme weather

How does storm damage impact our work? Last year...

23000

hours

spent on emergency or arising works

10

million

spent on emergency repairs

8

storms

in 3 months caused significant damage

When storms hit our canals and rivers, they cause immediate and widespread damage.

They put immense pressure on our resources, and our teams are already on the ground preparing for extreme weather this winter.

Take our storms quiz

Our emergency response

Our teams are responding to the threat of extreme weather to restore our canals.

The damage of Storm Éowyn

The last weekend of January saw the UK battered by the fifth named storm of the season and the ‘strongest in 10 years’

Recovering from Storm Darragh

Wild winds and flooding risks returned as Storm Darragh hammered into the UK, triggering a rare Red Warning from the Met Office

The effects of Storm Bert

High winds and torrential rain caused overtopping on the Leeds & Liverpool and boats adrift on the Grand Union

Last Edited: 7 February 2025

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