Our Major Disruptive Events Policy (the 'Policy') explains how Airbnb handles cancellations and refunds when large-scale events prevent or legally prohibit completion of a reservation. The policy excludes weather or natural conditions that are common enough to be foreseeable in a given location, except when they result in another covered event (as defined in the policy) that prevents completion of the reservation, such as a mandatory evacuation order or large-scale outage of essential utilities. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the most common foreseeable weather events, natural conditions and endemic diseases. This list is subject to change over time, and users should consult this page for updates.

We encourage guests to research their destination before booking and carefully review their reservation’s cancellation policy.

Tropical storms, cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons

Below are examples of the regions most frequently impacted by tropical storms, cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons, and their storm seasons.

Winter conditions and storms

Below are examples of areas regularly impacted by winter conditions and storms, and their seasons.

Endemic diseases

Below are examples of endemic diseases commonly found in different regions that are not covered by the Major Disruptive Events Policy. Affected reservations therefore remain subject to the Host’s cancellation policy for the listing.

The weather events and endemic diseases listed above are informed by data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, among other sources.

Weather events, natural conditions and diseases that are excluded from our Extenuating Circumstances Policy

Our Extenuating Circumstances Policy allows guests and Hosts to cancel only where the circumstances were not foreseeable when the reservation was made. Foreseeable circumstances that are not covered include the weather events, natural conditions and diseases described in this article, as well as any transportation disruptions that result from them. This article is intended to illustrate the most common excluded weather events, natural conditions and diseases rather than to provide an exhaustive list.

We encourage guests to research their destination before booking, carefully review the Host’s cancellation policy and consider buying travel insurance to protect against unexpected travel disruptions.

Tropical storms, cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons

Tropical cyclones are storms that typically form over bodies of water in the tropics and impact many coastal regions around the world. Depending on their location and strength, these storms are also known as hurricanes, typhoons, tropical storms, tropical depressions and cyclones. Below are examples of the regions most frequently impacted and their storm seasons.

Winter conditions and storms

Winter conditions and storms are characterized by snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain and/or extremely low temperatures during the winter months. The time of year when winter conditions and storms occur varies significantly by location, altitude and latitude. Places near sea level in the tropics don’t typically experience significant winter conditions or storms, while mountainous regions and areas further from the equator typically experience longer and more severe winter seasons, with a greater possibility of winter conditions and storms earlier and later into the season. Below are examples of areas regularly impacted by winter conditions and storms, and their seasons.

Endemic Diseases

Endemic diseases are diseases that are commonly found in certain regions as reported by public health authorities. These diseases may not always be found at high levels in these areas, and may experience high and low periods, but the risk of infection from these diseases is considered to be present on an ongoing basis in these areas. Below are examples of endemic diseases commonly found in different regions.

The weather events and endemic diseases listed above are non-exhaustive examples and are informed by data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, among other sources.