The Met Office has invited the public to vote for their favourite character from the Oscar-winning animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit to feature as a future storm name.
Weather enthusiasts, families and Shaun The Sheep fans will have the chance to decide which character makes it onto the national weather service's official storm names list for the 2026/27 season.
Public vote on social media
The partnership with animation studio Aardman will be settled by a public vote on the Met Office's social media channels from Wednesday to Friday. People will be able to choose between Shaun or his cousin, a lamb named Timmy, with the winning name added to this year's list.
The successful name will be revealed on September 1, although there is no guarantee a storm Shaun or Timmy will actually occur. Storms are named alphabetically each season and the furthest the Met Office has ever progressed through the alphabet is to L, with Storm Lilian in August 2024.
Why storm naming matters
The Met Office's head of warnings and guidance Holly Clements, said: "Naming storms helps our weather warnings reach more people and encourages the public to take notice when severe weather is approaching.
"This collaboration with Aardman gives us a fantastic opportunity to engage new audiences and explain why storm naming matters, helping people understand the risks severe weather can bring and the actions they can take to stay safe."
Previous storm name submissions
Last year, over 50,000 suggestions were put forward for the 2025/2026 season, with names such as Stormy McStormFace, Dame Judi Drench and David Blowy amongst those that didn't make the final selection.
Just 21 names were chosen, all from public submissions – honouring loved ones and pets including Amy, Dave, Stevie and Violet.
The Met Office launched its storm naming initiative in 2015 and collaborates with Ireland's meteorological service Met Éireann and KNMI, the Dutch national weather service, to compile the annual storm names list.
Amy Pearson, director of brand marketing and PR at Aardman, said: "It's brilliant to be teaming up with the Met Office to give fans the chance to help choose a future storm name.
"Rain or shine, weather is a familiar part of life on Mossy Bottom Farm, making this a fun and meaningful way to connect Shaun and Timmy's world with an important public message.
"Whoever you're backing, we hope the vote sparks some fun conversations about severe weather and how it can affect all of us."
Aardman, established by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, with the film Shaun The Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom set for release on September 18.
