Households are being advised to stockpile six crucial food items this winter, amid concerns that a severely cold, snow-filled season driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon could materialise. A polar vortex may bring colder conditions and potentially snowfall throughout the UK this winter, as the El Niño weather phenomenon causes severe weather conditions, climate experts have warned.
Polar Vortex and El Niño Signals
Earlier this week, the Met Office explained how a weakening polar vortex could trigger a frigid blast of Arctic air towards the UK and Europe, with snowfall looking increasingly likely, although not yet certain. El Niño has been a key factor behind soaring temperatures this year, with the warming of the ocean's surface having a substantial ripple effect on worldwide weather patterns, creating much warmer than average conditions.
It is thought to have been amongst the contributing factors behind the UK's five record-breaking heatwaves this summer. While nothing is guaranteed at this point, the El Niño weather front causes changes in high and low pressure systems.
How the Polar Vortex Works
The strength of a polar vortex - the body of cold air which typically circulates over the North and South poles - is vulnerable to interference from jet streams. When disrupted, it can force freezing air across the US and Europe, potentially triggering a cold snap and snowfall, reports Chronicle Live.
According to USA Today, El Niño is capable of 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."
Met Office Assessment
The Met Office has stated that a hot summer does not guarantee a cold winter, dismissing the idea of a direct and consistent causal link as a myth. Nevertheless, the El Niño phenomenon could this year be responsible for plunging the UK into a cold snap this winter, though this remains far from certain.
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."
Essential Food Items to Stock
Direct Energy advises that, when facing the prospect of snow, households should stock up on non-perishable food and supplies in case they are unable to reach their local supermarket, or are hit by a power outage, ensuring they don't go without food while waiting for the severe weather to pass.
According to the energy company, households should ensure they have these six 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, and 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."
