New Storm Names Unveiled for 2025–26 Season
Every September, as autumn officially begins in the meteorological calendar, storm season also gets underway. This year, the UK Met Office, along with Met Éireann in Ireland and the Dutch weather service KNMI, has revealed the latest list of names that will be used for storms in the 2025–26 season. The tradition of naming storms began back in 2015 and has proven to be an important way of helping the public stay alert, prepared, and safe when severe weather is expected.
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So, what are some of the names to look out for this year? The first few storms are set to be called Amy, Bram, and Chandra. Following them, we’ll hear names like Dave, Eddie, Hannah, Isla, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Violet, and even Wubbo. More than 50,000 suggestions were submitted by people across the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and from that long list, 21 names were carefully chosen. Some names were popular picks, while others were chosen for personal or cultural reasons. For instance, one storm will be named Dave, after a husband remembered for snoring “three times louder than any storm.” Another, Stevie, was inspired by a girl named after the Fleetwood Mac song Dreams with its famous line about thunder and rain. These names aren’t just picked at random—they’re reviewed for pronunciation, meaning across languages, and whether they might cause confusion or controversy.
Now, why do storms need names at all? It’s not about giving them character for the sake of it—it’s a communication tool. Storms that are likely to bring “medium” or “high” impacts, such as strong winds, heavy rain, snow, or flooding, are named to grab public attention. Once a storm has a name, it’s far easier for news outlets, officials, and communities to talk about it consistently. Surveys have shown that people are much more likely to take warnings seriously if the storm has a clear, memorable name. For example, during Storm Floris earlier this summer, 93% of people in affected areas were aware of the warnings, and over 80% actually took steps to prepare.
Across Europe, different regions have their own storm-naming groups. The UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands make up the western group, while France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Luxembourg form the southwestern group, and the northern group includes Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. To keep things consistent with the US National Hurricane Center, certain letters—Q, U, X, Y, and Z—are skipped entirely.
Looking back, the past storm season was relatively quiet, with only six named storms. Storm Éowyn in January was one of the strongest in more than a decade, with winds reaching over 135 miles per hour in places like Northern Ireland and Scotland. By contrast, the year before had seen twelve named storms, the busiest season since naming began.
While scientists say it’s difficult to spot long-term trends in windstorm activity, the impacts of climate change are being felt in other ways. Rising sea levels are expected to worsen coastal flooding during storms, and heavier rainfall is becoming more common, increasing the risk of floods. All of this makes storm naming an even more vital tool—helping everyone prepare for whatever the weather has in store this year.
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