Severe weather in early 2026 has caused widespread delays and disruptions across global shipping and logistics, with storms and flooding impacting ports, vessels, and inland transport routes. Mark Lee, general manager at Meachers, said the current conditions are creating unprecedented challenges for the global supply chain.

Operational Pressures in Europe and Beyond

Violent storms in the Bay of Biscay and persistent flooding in the UK have forced vessels to shelter, disrupting maritime operations and delaying freight flows. Maersk reported that conditions over the Bay of Biscay deteriorated sharply on 12-13 February, requiring vessels to pause and resulting in delays of around 24 hours.

In the Western Mediterranean, congestion and persistent wind conditions continue to restrict crane productivity in key ports such as Algeciras and Tangier. Elevated yard density and irregular vessel flow remain challenges as carriers work through accumulated delays.

Heavy storms and snowfall across southwest and western Europe have halted operations at several terminals, including Western Mediterranean ports that ceased activity entirely with no clear reopening timeline. Vessels have been forced to shelter, and carriers such as CMA CGM have reported cargo losses, including 58 containers lost in unexpectedly strong conditions off Malta.

UK Floods Add to Inland Transport Challenges

The UK has experienced rainfall every day of 2026 so far, leading to saturated ground, more than 100 flood warnings, and localized transport disruption. A strengthened and unusually displaced jet stream has trapped storms over the country, causing flooding in Somerset, southwest England, and eastern Scotland.

For shippers, this means slower truck movements in and out of ports, higher risk of missed delivery slots, and congestion at storage yards as outbound loads are delayed. These inland issues compound delays already occurring offshore.

Weather disruptions are also affecting ports globally. In early January, Conakry, Guinea recorded vessel waits of up to 13 days, with some carriers experiencing delays of up to 30 days. Port Louis, Mauritius, saw average waits of 7.5 days, leaving cargo stranded awaiting onward sailings.

Global Bottlenecks Impact Trade Routes

Shanghai, Ningbo, and Nansha faced fog delays, vessel bunching, yard densities above 90%, and multi-day wait times. These global bottlenecks ripple through to Europe, tightening capacity across Asia-Europe and Africa-Europe routes.

UK importers and exporters are also feeling the effects of severe storms across Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where adverse conditions have slowed terminal operations and disrupted berthing schedules. This has triggered missed berthing windows, worsening vessel bunching, and lower schedule reliability on Asia-Europe loops.

For importers, this increases the risk of delayed goods and raw materials. For exporters, meeting overseas delivery commitments becomes more difficult. The current weather pattern highlights the industry’s growing vulnerability to extreme conditions, the need for flexible logistics planning, and the value of accurate forecasting and resilient infrastructure.

Despite the challenges, Meachers Global Logistics continues to support customers by staying informed, agile, and proactive throughout this period of turbulence. According to Lee, “The situation demands that logistics providers remain adaptable and prepared for unpredictable conditions.”