UK Met Office unveils 2026-2027 storm names
The Met Office releases the new public-voted storm name list for the 2026-2027 UK season, marking its eleventh year.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Met Office reveals the public-nominated storm names for the 2026-2027 season.
- Austen, Boelo, and Chloe lead the alphabetical list, followed by Dano and Evelyn.
- Storm naming provides clear and consistent public warnings for severe weather.
- This marks the eleventh year of the UK, Irish, and Dutch meteorological collaboration.
September the first marks the beginning of meteorological autumn and the official start of the UK storm season. To prepare for upcoming severe weather conditions, the Met Office has published a fresh roster of storm names for the 2026-2027 season, carefully selected from submissions sent in by the public.
For the upcoming season, the public can expect to hear names such as Austen, Boelo, and Chloe heading the alphabetical sequence, followed by Dano and Evelyn. In the UK, storms receive official names whenever they are projected to cause disruption or damage that might trigger an amber or red weather warning.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This decision relies heavily on both the potential severity of the weather impact and the statistical probability of it occurring. Storms are typically christened when strong winds are anticipated, though heavy rainfall and snow accumulation causing local flooding or travel chaos are also factored into the final call.
The 2026-2027 cycle marks the eleventh anniversary of the storm-naming project across the UK. The final rosters are chosen jointly by the Met Office, Met Éireann, and KNMI to accurately represent communities throughout the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
"Austen was suggested in honour of Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service."
Met Office
Back in 2025, the three meteorological agencies invited citizens to submit name nominations. Over 40,000 entries poured in, resulting in names like Amy, Isla, and Marty being chosen for the 2025/2026 period. This year's lineup continues to draw inspiration from those suggestions, highlighting personal stories behind the monikers.
Assigning human names to meteorological hazards has proven to be a vital risk-communication tool. It transforms abstract weather forecasts into memorable threats, driving higher public engagement and ensuring communities take official warnings and evacuation notices more seriously than they would for simple tracking numbers.
Any remnants of Atlantic tropical storms or hurricanes crossing over will retain their original designations, such as ex-Hurricane Erin which battered South West England with large swells in August 2025. Additionally, names starting with Q, U, X, Y, and Z remain excluded to align with US National Hurricane Center conventions.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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