Brits have been warned by the Met Office that El Niño could bring significant weather disruption to homes this autumn and winter. Scientists have declared the El Niño climate phenomenon is now the strongest on record, raising concerns over increased rainfall and storms in the coming weeks.
Homeowners are being urged to take steps to ensure their home is storm-proof to prevent costly repairs. New research from The AA Insurance reveals that one fifth (17.1 per cent) of home insurance claims are caused by storm damage, while another official government survey found that only 13 per cent of people believe their household is prepared for a disaster.
Growing concern over severe weather
While home insurance provides valuable financial protection when unexpected incidents occur, many of the UK's most common household problems begin with small issues that worsen over time if left unchecked. In the wake of El Niño warnings, an increase in Google searches regarding home insurance covering storm damage has also jumped.
An El Niño is a naturally-occurring climate event that develops in the Pacific Ocean. Causing sea-surface temperatures to rise, this can change atmospheric patterns and influence weather across the globe. The World Meteorological Organisation reported the 2026 El Niño as firmly established in mid-August and expected to continue until February 2027.
Met Office warning and record strength
With the phenomenon already at a record-breaking level, meteorologists are warning that it still has time to grow further as the weather event isn't expected to hit its peak until winter. To help homeowners stay on top of routine maintenance throughout the year, The AA has created a free Home Maintenance Scheduler, which should help households plan essential seasonal jobs that could reduce the risk of expensive repairs.
To protect against storm damage, Brits are being told to follow this ten-job checklist: store garden furniture away, clear gutters, insulate external pipes, clean leaves and debris from the garden, check roof for signs of damage, seal draughts around windows, check drains, check pipes for leaks and cracks, inspect chimney, and check garden fencing.
Government campaign and emergency preparedness
It comes as Security Minister Dan Jarvis stated he wants to guarantee communities are as resilient as possible, acknowledging there are likely to be "a number of challenges" confronting the nation this winter. The Government will shortly launch a nationwide campaign to make sure Britons are aware of the appropriate supplies, escape routes or emergency contacts they should have.
The campaign is expected to inform people about the essential supplies they should store in the cupboard, including battery or wind-up torches, bottles of water and tins of non-perishable food. An entire emergency kit full list can be found here.
