How storms get their names

The Met Office has revealed the names to be given to UK storms this autumn and winter, including a meteorological moniker chosen by the public.

The national weather service compiles the list of names in partnership with forecasters from Ireland’s Met Éireann and the Netherlands’ KNMI. The Met Office’s chosen names for 2022-23 include Daisy, Glen, Khalid and Owain and were picked from submissions from the public.

The public also had their say in a poll on Twitter that was won by the name Betty, with more than 12,000 votes. Met Éireann’s choices include Cillian, Fleur, Íde, and Nelly, while KNMI opted for Antoni, Hendrika, Johanna and Loes, in tributes to influential Dutch scientists.

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How are storms named?

According to the Met Office, whether a storm is named is based on the guidance of its National Severe Weather Warnings service, which assesses “a combination of both the impact the weather may have, and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.

“A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause an amber or red warning,” the weather service said. Along with the strength of the initial storm, factors including “the impacts of rain and snow” are also taken into account.

Storm names are taken from the names list in alphabetical order, but none ever start with the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z, “to ensure we are in line with the US National Hurricane Centre naming conventions ”, the Met Office added.

Members of the UK public have been invited to suggest storm names since 2015. Submissions can be made by emailing nameourstorms@metoffice.gov.uk.

Why are storms named?

Storms are named in order to help “raise awareness and inform the public of the risks of upcoming storms”, said the Met Office.

Research suggests that “people will be more aware and wary of a storm if it is referred to by a human name”, The Sun reported. And “this means they will be more likely to take measures to keep themselves and their property safe if they are told the storm will hit close by”.