2026 Storm Names Have Just Been Announced – Here's How They're Really Picked

A stormSo far in 2025, we’ve reached the letter “F” with our storms – Storm Floris reached us on 1 August. 2023/24 was far more active, though. We saw 12 named storms that year, because, as the Met Office puts it, “Storm seasons are highly variable in the UK, with some seasons seeing a low frequency of named storms, and others more”. Time will only tell, then, how many of the recently announced 2025/26 storm names will end up being put to use.Still, we thought we’d share the ones that have just come out, as well as share how these monikers are chosen to begin with. What are the storm names for 2025/26?These are:Amy BramChandraDave Eddie FionnualaGerard HannahIsla JannaKasia Lilith Marty NicoOscar Patrick RubyStevie TadhgViolet Wubbo.How do storm names get picked?All names for this year were submitted by the public, with over 50,000 votes cast overall. Because UK storms are named by a combination of the Met Office and Irish (Met Éireann), and Dutch (KNMI) weather services, submissions came from multiple countries.You might notice, though, that not all the letters are included. For instance, the BBC explained, “there are no storms that start with the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z”. This is because the US National Hurricane Centre does not use these letters either, so it helps to keep the names consistent across the Atlantic. Offensive, hard-to-pronounce, controversial, and public figure names are off the menu, as are options that have different meanings across the countries affected.Why do storms have names to begin with?Only storms that are expected to cause medium to high damage to the UK, Ireland, and/or the Netherlands get named.Wind is the primary factor behind the classification, but rain and snow can affect it too. “When a storm has a name, it becomes easier for the media and public to talk about it, share information, and prepare,” Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said. “It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in helping communities stay safe, protect their homes, and make informed decisions ahead of severe weather.” In the case of recent named storm Floris, for example, 92% of people in the affected areas knew about the amber alerts in place. “Over the past decade, we’ve seen how naming storms helps raise awareness and ultimately, helps save lives,” Hicks added. “It’s a simple but powerful tool in helping communities stay safe when severe weather is on the way.”Related...The Most Accurate Weather App Has Finally Been IdentifiedHere's What A Red Weather Warning Actually Means, And What To Do If You've Been Given OneExposure To These Weather Conditions May Increase Dementia Risk

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