Weather Delay Documentation in Construction: What to Record Every Day
To document a weather delay, record site conditions in your daily report every day (temperature, precipitation, wind, ground conditions, with times), and on affected days record exactly which work stopped or slowed, which crews, from what time to what time, how many hours were lost, and what crews did instead. Back it up with photos, an official weather record such as NOAA data, and the schedule activities affected. Then follow your contract's weather and notice provisions.
What to record every day
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Morning conditions | 7:00 AM, 46 F, overcast, wind 5 mph |
| Midday | 12:00 PM, 52 F, light rain began 11:20 AM |
| End of shift | 3:30 PM, 50 F, rain ended 3:00 PM |
| Precipitation | 0.6 in. at site gauge |
| Ground | Standing water at east lot, Roof Area B wet |
| Impact | See work and delays |
Write "no weather impact" on clear days. That line is cheap and valuable.
What to record on affected days
- Which activities stopped or slowed. Use schedule activity names.
- Which crews and how many workers.
- Start and stop times of the stoppage.
- Hours lost per crew.
- What crews did instead (moved inside, sent home).
- After-effects. Drying time, pumping, mud, damaged work.
- Protection taken. Tarps, temporary dry-in, heaters.
- Notice given, if required.
Sample entry: rain day
Weather: 7 AM 44 F overcast. Rain 11:20 AM to 3:00 PM, 0.6 in. at site gauge. Wind 10 to 15 mph. Impact: Bayside Roofing (5) stopped membrane at Roof Area B 11:20 AM, temporary seal complete 11:45 AM, crew released 12:00 PM. 20 hrs lost. Site grading (Granite Excavation, 3) stopped 11:30 AM, equipment parked, 13.5 hrs lost. Delta Drywall (8) interior, no impact. After-effects: Roof Area B needs dry-out; Bayside expects to resume Thursday AM if no rain. East lot muddy, grading not possible until dry. Schedule: Roof Area B activity 4210 now 2 days behind lookahead. Photos: 6.
Sample entry: day after
"Clear, 55 F. Roof Area B still wet at 8 AM per Bayside foreman moisture check. Roofing resumed 10:30 AM. 12 hrs lost to dry-out. East lot grading not possible, standing water. Excavator idle all day."
The day-after impact is often missed and often worth as much as the rain day itself.
Heat, cold and wind
Weather delays are not only rain:
- Heat: record temperature and heat index, heat plan actions, early stops.
- Cold: record temperature at pour times, cold-weather concrete measures, freeze protection.
- Wind: record gust readings and when crane or lift work stopped and resumed.
- Lightning: record when work stopped and the all-clear.
Use an official source
Site observations carry weight because they are specific, but pair them with an official record. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information offers historical data by station: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/cdo-web/. Note the station you use and its distance from the site.
Understand your contract
Contracts handle weather differently. Common approaches:
- Time (no money) for abnormal weather beyond what is typical for the location and season
- A set number of anticipated weather days built into the schedule, with time for days beyond that
- Weather only counts if it affects critical path work
Track weather days against the allowance as you go. A running count in the daily report ("weather day 7 of 12 anticipated for the season") saves a scramble later.
Common mistakes
- Recording weather only when it is bad
- "Rain day" with no crews, hours or activities
- Missing the next-day effects
- No photos of conditions
- Not counting weather days against the contract allowance
- Late notice
For more on claims, see daily reports for delay claims. For the full report format, start from the daily report template.
Weather planning in the lookahead
Weather documentation is easier when weather is part of planning. Note weather-sensitive activities (roofing, concrete, exterior finishes, crane picks, grading) in the three-week lookahead, check the forecast at the weekly meeting, and plan alternate interior work for crews. When a weather day hits, the daily report can show both the stoppage and the mitigation, which strengthens any request for time.
Weather documentation checklist
- Conditions recorded at start, midday and end of shift, every day
- Precipitation amount and source (site gauge or named station)
- Affected activities named with schedule IDs
- Crews, headcount and hours lost per crew
- Start and stop times of every stoppage
- What crews did instead
- Next-day effects recorded
- Protection measures noted
- Photos of conditions and impacts
- Running count against the contract's weather allowance
- Notice given within the contract deadline and recorded
Example: a three-day weather event in the record
Day 1: "Rain 11:20 AM to 3:00 PM, 0.6 in. Roofing and grading stopped. 33.5 hrs lost. Weather day 7 of 12 anticipated." Day 2: "Clear. Roof Area B dry-out until 10:30 AM, 12 hrs lost. East lot standing water, grading not possible, excavator idle." Day 3: "Clear. Grading resumed 9:00 AM after pumping. Roof Area B on track. Net impact of event: 2 working days on Roof Area B, 2.5 days on east lot grading."
Three short entries make the full impact of one storm clear to anyone reading later.
Weather and impact, captured as it happens
Cascade is SMS-first field intelligence for general contractors and subcontractors: superintendents and foremen text in their day, along with their subs, and Cascade builds the daily report, so "rain started 11:20, roofers off the roof" with a photo becomes a timestamped entry the moment it happens. Coverage: Daily reports, manpower and hours by sub, photos, toolbox talks, pre-task plans (JHA), safety incidents and corrective actions, project + schedule planning, automatic sub reminders, analytics and plain-English answers.
Subcontractor access is free. See SMS daily construction reports. Free onboarding and integration, a one-month pilot on the general contractor plan with no contract lock-in, and a price below Raken, Procore and ACC, guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
How do you prove a weather delay in construction?
With daily reports showing site conditions and their effect on specific work, crews and hours on each affected day, supported by photos, an official weather record such as NOAA data, the schedule showing the affected activities, and the contract's weather day provisions.
Does every rainy day count as a weather delay?
No. Many contracts only allow time for weather that is abnormal for the location and season, or that exceeds a set number of anticipated weather days, and only if it affected critical work. Read your contract's weather provision.
Should I record weather on good days?
Yes. Recording normal weather every day establishes a baseline, shows the record is not selective, and helps count weather days against any contract allowance.
Where can I get official historical weather data?
NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information provides historical climate data by station at https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/cdo-web/.