UK households are being urged to buy four essential food items before Storm Bert arrives. (Image: Getty)
UK households are being urged to buy five essential food items before arrives in the UK, bringing snow, ice, rain and gale-force winds to large swathes of the country.
Yellow and amber have been issued for this weekend, as the warns the storm will be a “multi-hazard event”.
The storm is forecast to arrive overnight on Friday into Saturday, initially over Northern Ireland, before moving across the country to bring snow to parts of Scotland, north Wales and northern England.
Heavy rain is also forecast to come through Saturday and Sunday, particularly in southern and western parts of the UK, with daytime temperatures expected to be at a chilly 7C.
Up to 40cm of snow could fall on higher ground in some areas and between 10 and 20cm on lower ground, but it may be preceded by a spell of freezing rain, creating an ice risk on roads and pavements.
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The has warned that power cuts are likely, mobile phone coverage may be affected, and some rural communities could be cut off.
Rail services are also likely to be cancelled, and untreated pavements and cycle paths could become impassable.
As such, households are urged to act now and be prepared by getting essentials together if they are left without food or heat or are cut off by snow and cannot access services or amenities.
Direct Energy advises households to stock up on non-perishable snacks and supplies when heavy snow is forecast to ensure they have enough food on hand if they can’t get to their local shop or are affected by a power outage.
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The five essential food items the energy firm recommends households have ahead of a snowstorm are:
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Bread
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Tinned goods, especially warming foods like soups and stews
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Snack foods, such as crisps, crackers and cookies in sealed packages
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Cereal and granola
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Dried pasta and jars of sauce
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.”
It is also advisable to ensure you have torches and batteries in the event of a power outage, as well as candles and matches, and plenty of blankets and warm clothing to fend off the cold.