A new list of storm names for the 2025-2026 North Atlantic season has been released by weather experts from Met Office, Metéireann, and KNMI, the Dutch national weather service.
This year it consists entirely of proposals submitted to the public, with around 50,000 names being put forward for consideration. Amy, Blum and Chandra will be the first three storms named in the group this season.
The full list of names is rounded with Dave, Eddie, Fionnuara, Gerald, Hannah, Isla, Gianna, Cassia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadge, Violet and Vuvo.
Why name the Arashi?
The UK’s Met Office, along with partners at Ireland’s Metéireann and KNMI, the Dutch national weather forecasting service, began name the storm in 2015.
“The naming of a storm is not just about giving them a label, but about making sure people get attention,” says Rebekah Hicks, Met’s office chief meteorologist.
“If a storm has a name, it’s easy for the media and the public to discuss it, share information, and prepare. This is a simple step that can make a big difference in helping the community stay safe, protect their homes, and make informed decisions ahead of bad weather.”
Over the past decade, Met Office says it has seen how storm naming can help raise awareness and save lives. Hicks found that in the case of Storm Floris in early August, the survey found that 93% of the Amber warning area were aware of the alert, and 83% had taken steps to prepare.
Eoin Sherlock, head of Metéireann’s forecasting department, adds it Storm Ewin Last January was a great example of how well this works. The forecasting service website received over 3 million hits in two days, helping to spread lifesaving information.
“The name selection process has been fun and light-hearted, but ultimately, it’s our number one priority to advise the public about the importance of being prepared for the upcoming storm season and to convey a safety message with each predicted storm,” Sherlock says.
How is the storm name chosen?
North Atlantic storms miss the letters q, u, x, y, z and are named alphabetically.
Many factors are taken into consideration when choosing whether to do so Name the list. That includes how difficult it is to pronounce different meanings in different countries, if it relates to an important public figure, and if the name could be considered controversial in some way.
This year’s list comes from over 50,000 proposals submitted by members of the public. Some of them have deep, personal stories.
Violet was sent for a baby born in 27 weeks, but her mother was feeling unwell and her daughter was “unstoppable as violently as a storm.” Stevie was inspired by a little girl named after Stevie Knicks Fleetwood Macthat song dream includes lines.”Thunder only occurs when it’s raining”.
Storm name suggestions can be submitted to the public at any time on the Met Office website.
How many names will be used this season?
The storm is named by a group of weather services only if it is believed to cause a “medium” or “high” effect in the UK, Ireland, or the Netherlands. While wind is the main consideration, meteorologists also look at the effects from rain and snow when deciding whether to give a name to a storm.
The list of names runs between early September and late August of the following year, coinciding with the beginning of autumn and end of summer. This is when the possibility of a low-pressure system and the likelihood of a storm that is so severe that it is nominated increases.
During the 2024/2025 season, forecasters reached “F” on August 1st at Storm Floris. The number of storms is low in the storm season, so listings are used less, but other storms like the 2023/2024 season with a record 12 storms are more active.