The Met Office, in partnership with its Irish counterpart Met Éireann, has officially released its highly anticipated list of storm names for the 2024-2025 season. This year's roster continues the popular tradition of blending public submissions with meteorological expertise, resulting in a list that is both community-focused and prepared for the Atlantic's fiercest weather.
The new names, which will be used for any storm deemed to have the potential to cause medium or high impacts in the UK or Ireland, include a fascinating mix. From the public's choices, ‘Bogdan’ and ‘Mercèdes’ have earned their spots, while the agencies themselves contributed names like ‘Barra’—the Irish word for ‘top of a hill’—and ‘Daisy’.
What's in a Storm Name?
The practice of naming storms is far from arbitrary. It serves a critical public safety function. A named storm simplifies communication for meteorologists, making severe weather warnings clearer and more effective. This allows the public and emergency responders to understand the threat and take necessary precautions more swiftly.
The alphabetical naming system restarts each season, omitting the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z to comply with international naming conventions.
A Community Effort in Weather Forecasting
The inclusion of public suggestions is a key part of the initiative. "We were thrilled with the phenomenal response to our call for names," a Met Office spokesperson commented. "Seeing so many people engage in the process helps us raise awareness about the impacts of severe weather and the importance of staying prepared."
The collaboration between the UK's Met Office and Ireland's Met Éireann, which began in 2015, has proven to be a successful model for public engagement and safety. The Dutch national weather service, KNMI, also joins the partnership, highlighting a cross-border approach to weather preparedness.
As the autumn and winter months approach, the UK and Ireland are now armed with a new set of names for the tempests that will inevitably roll in from the Atlantic. The next storm to hit will be dubbed ‘Abigail’, followed by ‘Bogdan’, ‘Ciarán’, and so on down the list.
