Brief
Uswitch warns Super El Niño could plunge millions of Britons offline
Research shows power cuts now cause 41 % of UK broadband outages, and a forecast‑strong El Niño could worsen the problem this winter.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Uswitch’s latest research indicates that 26.7 million Britons lost broadband access last year – an increase of almost one‑fifth on the previous year – and warns that a forecast "Super El Niño" could trigger even larger outages this autumn and winter.
What happened
The study found power cuts have become the leading cause of internet failures, accounting for 41 % of service disruptions and overtaking provider faults. With the Pacific Ocean’s El Niño phenomenon expected to intensify, forecasters predict wetter, windier conditions across the UK, raising the risk of storms that can damage power infrastructure.
What the reports add
Uswitch broadband expert Max Beckett told the Daily Mail that "your broadband is only as reliable as the electricity behind it, and power cuts are now the main reason people lose their connection." He advised households to keep a charged mobile phone handy and to ask providers about battery‑back‑up options for landline services. Professor Adam Scaife, head of monthly to decadal prediction at the Met Office, said he has "never seen an El Niño signal this intense in our forecasts," adding that while El Niño does not directly shape British weather, it can send atmospheric waves that disrupt the jet stream and bring severe weather to the UK.
What was said
Beckett warned, "Keep a charged mobile to hand, and if anyone in your home relies on the landline, ask your provider about a battery backup." Scaife warned that the current El Niño is projected to peak in December and remain strong into the following spring, potentially becoming the strongest on record.
How it came about
Uswitch’s analysis builds on a year‑on‑year rise in broadband outages linked to power failures, a trend mirrored in previous Felo News coverage of large‑scale power disruptions, such as the Hurricane Isaias outage in the US Gulf Coast (see Hurricane Isaias knocks out power for over 700,000 in Alabama and Florida). The looming Super El Niño adds a new climate‑driven dimension to the UK’s vulnerability.
Key facts
- 26.7 million Britons lost broadband access last year, up almost 20% on the previous year (dailymail.co.uk)
- Power cuts now cause 41% of UK broadband service failures (dailymail.co.uk)
- Uswitch warns a Super El Niño could trigger severe storms and further outages this winter (dailymail.co.uk)
- Met Office's Adam Scaife says he has never seen an El Niño signal this intense in forecasts (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Super El Niño could trigger power cuts that leave millions offline”
