Households with log burners and wood burners are being urged to check one thing before snow hits the UK this winter, which has been predicted could happen as early as this November. The Met Office has cautioned that a record-early weakening of the Polar Vortex, the usual barrier which protects freezing North Pole air from blowing out across the UK and Europe, could lead to a freezing cold spell as soon as the end of November.
While snow is not confirmed, the increasingly likely chances of a cold spell means that taking precautions is wise, especially after the government already recently stressed the importance of UK households being more prepared for contingencies and emergencies.
British Gas Advice for Solid Fuel Appliances
Energy supplier British Gas has advice for households about how best to prepare when they think snow is a risk, including how to 'get ready for heavy snowfall'. It includes specific advice tailored to log burner and wood burner households.
It says that households with these solid fuel burning appliances should store extra firewood, and also check carbon monoxide detectors are fully functional.
It says: "Have a wood burner? Don’t forget to store extra firewood indoors, just in case you can't get outdoors due to bad weather."
Or if you use electric heaters, remember to keep them at least three feet away from furniture and curtains. "To be extra safe, only use heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements.
"Did you know there's an increased risk of house fires during cold weather? That’s because more people resort to alternative heat sources like log burners and electric heaters to keep the chill off. So it’s vital that you regularly test your smoke alarms and CO2 [carbon monoxide] detectors to make sure they’re working properly. And always clear any ventilation outlets after a snowfall to keep them working efficiently."
Polar Vortex and Cold Weather Risk
The Met Office explains how a Polar Vortex could happen, though it is not yet certain. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: "At the moment, we’ve got a warming taking place in the stratosphere. The polar vortex in the stratosphere is starting to weaken."
Mr Petagna says that if winds change direction, it would become a 'major sudden stratospheric warming' event and potentially the earliest on record. The meteorologist added: "For the UK, it does increase the chance of cold weather, normally a few weeks down the line, so sort of deeper into November is when we’re more likely to see an influence if it does happen. It’s important to emphasise that there was a major warming event last November, and on that occasion it didn’t directly lead to much cold weather in the UK. It doesn’t always happen, it just increases the chance of it occurring."
Preparedness for National Emergencies
Even if it doesn't snow, the UK's Prepare website urges households to be well stocked in case of national emergencies anyway, such as extreme weather but also strikes on infrastructure, the breakout of conflict and cyberattacks which could cause disruption and outages.
It says: "Consider what supplies you and your household might need during an emergency lasting a few days, such as a power cut or water outage, or situations where you are advised to stay at home or to leave your home (evacuate) for safety reasons."
It includes: "Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets."
