Met Office warns 'Godzilla' El Niño could smash polar vortex and bring brutal UK winter this year

From the Newshound archive · first published 3 October 2026 · last updated 5 October 2026.

The Met Office has warned that an unprecedented "Godzilla" El Niño event could weaken the polar vortex this winter, dramatically raising the chances of heavy snow, severe storms and flooding across Britain. Chief forecaster Dr Will Lang called it a "subtle shift in the odds" rather than a certainty, but said the UK faces heightened potential for wet, stormy and bitterly cold conditions in the coming months. British Gas is urging households to stockpile at least three days' worth of food, medicines and drinking water now.

NOAA research confirms El Niño 'tends to promote the breakdown of the polar vortex, especially in late winter'.

A weakened vortex turns 'wavy', allowing Arctic air to spill south into Europe and potentially locking cold conditions in for the rest of 2026.

British Gas also advises insulating pipes, keeping car fuel tanks at least half full and checking on elderly neighbours ahead of any cold snap.