The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued fresh guidance to households, motorists and businesses as Storm Chandra is forecast to bring severe winds and heavy rains to parts of the UK, particularly southwest England and the eastern coast of Northern Ireland.
Named by the Met Office as the next storm of 2026, Chandra is expected to cause disruption and increase the risk of property damage and localised flooding. For insurers and brokers, it is another early-year test of storm preparedness, client communication and claims capacity in a period of heightened weather-related losses.
The ABI is urging policyholders to stay close to official forecasts and warnings from the Met Office and the relevant flood agencies and to take sensible precautions where it is safe to do so. That includes securing or storing items that could be picked up by strong winds, such as trampolines, garden furniture, ladders and bins, to reduce the risk of damage to their own or neighbouring properties.
Policyholders are also reminded to have their home insurance and emergency contact details to hand, and to keep up basic property maintenance as good upkeep is a standard expectation in most policies. They are encouraged to check their documents for common limitations, such as reduced or no cover for some fences and garden items.
In flood-prone areas, the ABI is reiterating its standard storm advice: sign up for flood alerts where available, prepare a simple flood kit of essentials, secure valuables and important documents and deploy existing property-level flood resilience measures. Households are urged not to put themselves at risk to protect property and to keep pets and vulnerable family members away from rising water and unsafe structures.
For any damage suffered during Storm Chandra, the ABI advised policyholders to inform their insurer as soon as it is safe. The association said most providers operate 24-hour helplines and can arrange emergency repairs and interim payments where appropriate. The ABI stressed that policyholders should focus on temporary emergency repairs to prevent further damage and speak to their insurer before instructing full remedial works.
For commercial policyholders, standard property insurance typically covers damage to buildings and stock, while business interruption cover may respond to additional trading costs such as temporary premises, extra staff or equipment needed to keep operating.
Mark Shepherd, assistant director and head of general insurance policy at the ABI, said insurers are ready to support customers throughout the event. “People will understandably be concerned about the disruption and potential damage Storm Chandra may bring. Insurers are prepared for severe weather at any time and will be on hand to support their customers throughout the claims process. If it is safe to do so, taking a few precautionary measures may help reduce the risk of damage.”
Recent UK storms over the past 12 months underline the growing financial impact of severe weather on insurers. Storm Éowyn in January 2025 was one of the most powerful windstorms in recent years, causing widespread disruption across the UK and Ireland, with European insured losses estimated at close to €765 million and the UK accounting for a significant share of windstorm-related claims.
Storm Floris, in August 2025, delivered unusually strong summer winds, particularly in northern Scotland, prompting a surge in property and contents insurance claims despite the absence of finalised loss totals.
In early January 2026, Storm Goretti brought severe weather across Cornwall, Wales and parts of central England, with insurers reporting a sharp rise in claims volumes across residential and agricultural lines as adjusters responded to structural damage, fallen trees and power outages.
Broader ABI data illustrates the accelerating cost of extreme weather. UK insurers paid a record £585 million for weather-related damage to homes and possessions in 2024, while property insurers reported £4.6 billion in total payouts by late 2025, with adverse weather accounting for a significant share of claims. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, insurers paid £1.6 billion in property claims, including £322 million linked to storms, heavy rainfall and cold weather, highlighting the sustained pressure that frequent and increasingly severe storms are placing on the UK insurance market.
