The Met Office, in partnership with Ireland's Met Eireann and the Dutch KNMI, has announced the list of storm names for the 2025-2026 season, with Amy, Bram, and Chandra set to be the first named storms this winter. The names were chosen from over 50,000 public submissions, many of which were tributes to loved ones or pets.
Storm naming, which began in 2015, aims to help people prepare and stay safe during severe weather. The list runs from early September to the following August, with names following an alphabetical order that omits Q, U, X, Y, and Z. Last season saw six storms named, up to Storm Floris on August 1.
Among the notable submissions, Amy was the most popular female name, while Dave was described as a husband who 'can snore three times louder than any storm'. Isla was chosen for little girls who 'leave chaos in their wakes', and Violet honoured a daughter born at 27 weeks, described as 'every bit as fierce and unstoppable as a storm'. Stevie was inspired by Stevie Nicks' song 'Dreams', and Ruby was a tribute to a cherished grandmother.
Pets also featured, including a cat named Oscar, remembered for 'loving the wind in his fur'. The Met Office considered factors such as pronunciation, cultural meanings, and potential controversy before finalising the list.
Rebekah Hicks, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, emphasised that naming storms helps raise awareness and save lives. She noted that during Storm Floris, 93% of people in the amber warning area were aware of alerts, and 83% took action. Meteorologist Alex Deakin added that climate change is making weather more extreme, increasing the risk of flooding.
