Millions told to stock up on 7 items now as 'devastating' weather forming
Millions told to stock up on 7 items now as 'devastating' weather forming
Christopher SharpTue, October 27, 2026 at 3:21 PM UTC
0
The U.S. could once again be struck by terrible weather this winter -Credit:Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Millions around the world are being told to prepare as weather experts issue warnings about an El Niño that could trigger "devastating consequences." The World Meteorological Organization defines El Niño as "characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific."
Once it takes hold, it can spawn dramatic and destructive weather patterns, potentially wreaking havoc on those caught in its grip.
Just last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted temperatures would exceed normal levels this winter. Along with this forecast, NOAA's National Weather Service director, Ken Gram, warned that a strong El Niño "will likely bring a southward and eastward shift to the jet stream for the contiguous U.S., which tilts the odds toward stormier weather across the South" throughout the typically frigid months.
• Americans told 'prepare now' and stock up on seven items ahead of 'devastating' weather
• El Niño map shows major snow pattern changes across the US this winter
This year may turn out particularly brutal for Americans, based on insights from The Weather Channel's Mike Bettes.
He told The Mirror US, "If prior strong El Niños are any guide, this could be a very active year for atmospheric rivers in Southern California, and that could have disastrous consequences."
"Back-to-back atmospheric rivers can bring massive flooding and landslides, fill reservoirs, and even threaten dams," he added. "Water is going to be a major player this winter, and communities across the Southwest and Southeast should be preparing now."
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.
Advertisement
Millions of Americans have been told to prepare for the impact of this winter's El Niño -Credit:George Rose/Getty Images
Bettes isn't the only one raising red flags about the potentially devastating impact of this winter's El Niño, reports the Express US.
Fellow on-screen meteorologist Jen Carfagno pointed out that this El Niño was already breaking records and was strong enough to extend well beyond the winter season.
"Every El Niño is different, but all the signs with this one — from its strength to the influence we're already seeing along the West Coast — signal a very active winter that we haven't seen in a long time," she said.
"We're already seeing the classic trappings of El Niño — a very strong subtropical jet stream that has suppressed tropical activity in the Atlantic, while the Eastern Pacific has seen record activity. Since this El Niño is so strong, we may feel its impacts well past winter, into spring and possibly even next summer."
Should you be stocking up on supplies?
With El Niño potentially approaching its peak, several experts have put together a list of items worth purchasing to ensure you're fully equipped to handle the conditions ahead.
Power engineer Heather Eason told UNILAD that one of the most essential items to get your hands on is a power generator, in case of home power outages.
Parts of America have already been hit by bad weather this fall -Credit:David McNew/Getty Images
She also flagged seven additional must-have items: a phone power bank, LED lanterns, batteries, portable battery power station, extension cords, propane for a gas grill and solar panels.
But will it really be as devastating as predicted?
As anxiety builds over the looming winter months, NOAA physical scientist Michele L'Heureux is calling for calm, reminding everyone that forecasts are just that — predictions — and reality might not be as harsh as feared.
"It is really important to emphasize that even if this ends up being a historic El Niño, there will be impacts in some locations that do not align with the expected El Niño impact," she explained to ABC News.
"This is why our seasonal forecasts are expressed in terms of probabilities. You can think of El Niño as setting preferred pathways for weather systems to repeat over certain locations, but it is not going to tell every weather system exactly what to do and where to go."
Source: “AOL Breaking”
