Six food items households need to stock up on before Polar Vortex hits Britain

Brits have been warned to stock up some essential food items in case the ‘unprecedented’ El Niño helps to usher in a snowy winter.

If bad weather does hit the UK, it pays to be prepared and making sure you have enough basic supplies now could save you a lot of hassle further down the line.

As you may already be aware, this year's weather has been seriously impacted by the current ‘Super’ El Niño weather event, which experts say has already exceeded previous records and still has several weeks to go until it peaks.

The event is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that starts in the Pacific Ocean when surface temperatures become hotter than usual.

These new atmospheric circulation patterns then have a knock-on impact on the global weather and can result in flooding, wildfires and droughts.

A study from the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab recently estimated that the ongoing Super El Niño could cause 450,000 deaths in the next six months.

The UK could be in for a colder than usual winter (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned that the weather event will continue to have ‘far-reaching’ implications across the world, including in the UK.

Forecasters have said the wet and windy weather brought by El Niño is likely to start this week, and the Met Office has said many parts of the UK could be hit with ‘heavy rain’ on Wednesday (30 September).

There are also concerns that as we head further into the colder months, El Niño could disrupt a ring of swirling cold winds, known as the stratospheric polar vortex, that are situated above the Arctic.

The polar vortex is linked to the jet stream and both can be impacted by El Niño.

In a recent blog post, the Met Office has said that a hotter winter, like we had in the UK, doesn’t necessarily mean a colder winter is on the cards, noting that such talk is based on a ‘myth’.

It could be a good idea to stock up on some essential before the colder months arrive (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

It went on to say that the ‘unprecedented’ El Niño ‘increases the chances of a wetter and stormier late autumn and early winter period, which would also likely be milder than normal’.

However, this could change drastically later on in the winter, with Met Office adding: “Through the latter part of the winter, following a peak in El Niño, the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) can become weaker, leading to an increased chance of Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) events unfurling, increasing the potential for cold weather.

“However, significant as El Niño is, it is important to emphasise that it alone does not determine precise weather patterns and other outcomes remain possible.”

So, it seems like a case of having to wait and see.

Here's what you should stock up on

But, with the potential for bad weather on the, it could be a smart idea to stock up on some essentials, just in case.

Energy supplier Direct Energy suggested picking up some non-perishable items in the event that you can’t make it to your local supermarket or your power goes out.

In a post on its website, it suggests buying:

• Bottled water
• Bread
• Milk
• Tinned goods
• Things to snack on, like crisps and biscuits
• Cereal
• Dried pasta and jars of sauce

It also recommends making sure you’ve got a good supply of any medications your family might need, as well as ensuring items such as nappies, baby formula, and pet food are all stocked up, if required.