Met Office names storms for 2026-27 season
The Met Office and partners have released the upcoming storm season's names, which include public submissions like Shaun the Sheep.
The Met Office has revealed the official storm names for the 2026-27 season. The list, created in partnership with Ireland's Met Éireann and the Dutch KNMI, was released on Monday and includes names submitted by the public, from a beloved animated sheep to a destructive puppy.
More than 40,000 suggestions were submitted for consideration. The process aims to help the public prepare for severe weather. Holly Clements, the Met Office head of warnings and guidance, stated the purpose is serious. "A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings," Clements said.
The 2026-27 Storm Names
The full list of names for the season, which runs from September to August, is as follows. The names are used sequentially when a storm meets the impact criteria.
The Stories Behind the Names
Many of the chosen names have personal stories attached. The name Chloe was put forward more than 120 times. One submission came from the mother of a five-year-old weather enthusiast who is fascinated by the weather but can also create a storm herself when tired.
Finn was suggested for a two-year-old boy described by his family as wild and a force to be reckoned with. Ivy honours a nine-month-old labrador puppy known affectionately as the absolute destructor.
Shaun the Sheep joins the list after a public vote run as part of a collaboration with Aardman, the British animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit.
How Storms Are Named
The three meteorological services have jointly named storms since 2015. A storm receives a name when it is deemed to have the potential for a medium or high impact in the UK, Ireland, or the Netherlands. While wind is the primary focus, other impacts like heavy rain or snow are also considered.
In the last season, four names were used from the alphabetical list, reaching Storm Dave. The UK was also affected by three additional storms named by other European meteorological services: Benjamin, Claudia, and Goretti.
The release of the list coincides with the start of meteorological autumn, a period when the likelihood of impactful low-pressure systems increases. The first three storms of the new season will be Austen, Boelo, and Chloe.
