UK households urged to buy 6 essential foods before Polar Vortex snow hits

UK households urged to buy 6 essential foods before Polar Vortex snow hits Climate experts say a weakening polar vortex could bring colder weather and snow to the UK this winter, as households are urged to stock up on six essential foods in case of a cold snap Households are being urged to keep at least six essential food items stocked up this winter, should fears of a bitterly cold, snow -laden season driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon prove to be well-founded. Climate experts warn that a polar vortex could bring a sharp drop in temperatures and even snowfall to the UK this winter, as El Niño looks set to trigger harsher conditions. Just last week, the Met Office outlined how a weakening Polar Vortex could drive a freezing blast of Arctic air towards the UK and Europe, with snowfall appearing increasingly likely, though not yet confirmed. El Niño has been a significant driver of scorching temperatures throughout the year, with the warming of the ocean's surface having a dramatic knock-on effect on global weather systems, pushing temperatures well above average. It is believed to have been a contributing factor behind the UK's five record-breaking heatwaves this summer. While nothing has been confirmed just yet, the El Niño weather front triggers shifts in high and low pressure patterns. The polar vortex — the mass of cold air that typically circulates above the North and South poles — is susceptible to disruption from powerful jet streams. When thrown off course, it can unleash freezing temperatures and snowfall across the US and Europe, reports the Express. According to USA Today, El Niño is capable of directly interacting with the polar vortex. It reports: "The polar vortex above the Arctic is linked to the jet stream. Both can be impacted by El Niño, and bring about changes in our weather patterns, said Darryn Waugh, a professor in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. "El Niño drives changes in the high- and low-pressure patterns in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather happens, said Amy Butler, a physicist at NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory." The Met Office has stated that a hot summer does not guarantee a cold winter, and that the belief in a direct and consistent causal link between the two is nothing more than a myth. Nevertheless, the El Niño phenomenon could this year be the driving force behind a cold snap hitting the UK this winter, though nothing has been confirmed just yet. In its most recent weather blog, published this week, the forecaster stated: "The stratospheric polar vortex is already unusually stretched, with the disturbance associated with so-called "wave two" activity, when two large atmospheric waves push into it from opposite directions. "This wave two activity is considerably stronger than average for the time of year. Forecasts suggest the vortex will subsequently become increasingly displaced from the North Pole." Ensure our latest food stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings. Direct Energy advises that, when facing the prospect of snowfall, households should stock up on non-perishable snacks and supplies in case they are unable to get to their local supermarket, or are hit by a power outage, ensuring they don't go hungry while waiting for the harsh weather to pass. Essential items ahead of a snowstorm: - Bottled water - Bread - Milk - Tinned goods, especially warming foods like soups and stews - Snack foods, such as crisps, crackers and cookies in sealed packages - Cereal and granola - Dried pasta and jars of sauce In its online guidance on preparing for a snowstorm, the firm said: "After heavy snowfall or blizzard conditions, you could find yourself snowed in for days. "Getting cut off from your local grocery store could be made worse by a prolonged power outage, which would leave you with just a few hours to enjoy the remaining contents of your fridge safely. But if you stock your pantry with filling shelf-stable foods, you won't go hungry while waiting for the snow to be cleared."