Famously hard to predict, British weather does seem a little more turbulent than it once was. A number of powerful storms have ripped through the British Isles in recent years, causing damage to thousands of homes as well as injury and even deaths. But are you covered for unexpected weather events?
Is Britain getting stormier?
The position of the UK on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean accounts for its mild climate and the variable weather. However, we could experience an increasing number of wind storms in the future, according to research published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in 2017.*
From this the ABI suggests that costly storm damage to property caused by powerful winds could increase by 50% across central England and Northern Ireland by the end of the century. This assumes a temperature rise of +4.5C due to models of climate change. However, parts of southern England could see a decrease in wind storms and related damage.
Is flood risk increasing in the UK?
Due to more new homes, offices and retail parks, as well the tendency to pave our front gardens for parking, the landscape is less able to absorb rainfall. So in a storm there's a greater likelihood of flash floods. While winters on average are predicted to become wetter, the prospect of intense downpours in summer could be a greater risk of surface water flooding.
Moreover, the run-off is carried to river systems more quickly, which in turn are more likely to burst their banks. Inadequate drainage systems can also be quickly overwhelmed.
The Met Office reports that intense storm rainfall could occur once every five years due to climate change.
Will my home insurance cover extreme weather?
A common misconception about extreme weather events is that insurers class them as an act of nature to get out of paying damage claims. This isn't true, and very few insurers even use this term anymore.
Our levels of home insurance cover storm and flood damage, lightning strikes, and high winds bringing down trees and whipping roof tiles off.
If something on your property causes damage to a neighbouring property – slipping roof tiles or perhaps a fallen tree – you're probably liable for the damage. This should be covered by your buildings insurance, though you may have a harder time if there's a question of negligence – for instance, your roof tiles were loose before the storm.
If you're a keen gardener, do check that your beloved plants, shrubs and trees covered in the event of a storm. Garden cover is included in our levels of contents insurance.
Is my car protected from storm damage?
If your vehicle is damaged by a flood, hail or very strong winds, comprehensive car insurance should protect you.
But you could have misfortune passed on to you in the form of a flood-damaged car. If you're buying a used car in the aftermath of a local flood, beware of suspiciously low-priced vehicles. If in doubt, a vehicle inspection could save you money in the long run.
If you're concerned about the prospect of storm or flood damage, and you're not sure about the cover details of your insurance, call your provider and they'll tell you of any exclusions.
* Association of British Insurers (ABI), UK Windstorms and Climate Change, 2017.Update to ABI Research Paper No 19, 2009.
Author: The AA. Published 25 April 2018. Updated 3 June 2024.