Austen, Boelo and Chloe to Lead Next Winter's Named Storms

The beginning of September marks the start of meteorological autumn and, with it, the onset of the UK's storm season. In preparation, the Met Office has unveiled the official list of storm names for the 2026-2027 season, drawn from thousands of public suggestions submitted last year. This year's alphabetical roster begins with Austen, Boelo and Chloe, followed by Dano and Evelyn, as the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands ready themselves for the potential disruption that the coming months may bring.

The naming process is a collaborative effort between the UK Met Office, Ireland's Met Éireann, and the Netherlands' KNMI, which form the western European storm-naming group. Storms are named when they are forecast to cause "medium" or "high" impacts, typically triggering amber or red weather warnings. The decision is based on the potential severity of the weather and its likelihood, with strong winds being the most common cause, though heavy rainfall, snow, and flooding are also taken into account. The system, now in its eleventh year, is designed to provide a clear and consistent means of communicating severe weather, helping the public stay safe and informed.

This year's list continues to draw on the more than 40,000 names submitted by the public in 2025, reflecting not only popular choices but also the personal stories behind them. The name Austen, for example, was suggested in honour of Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service. Chloe, selected by the Met Office, was nominated more than 130 times, including by the mother of a five-year-old who is "fascinated by the weather" but can "create a storm by herself" when tired. Ivy was nominated in honour of a nine-month-old Labrador puppy known affectionately as "the absolute destructor." The agencies aim to reflect communities across the three nations, ensuring a sense of shared ownership and recognition.

The rules of the naming convention are clear. Any remnant of a tropical storm or hurricane that crosses the Atlantic will retain its original name, such as ex-Hurricane Erin, which brought a large swell to South West England in August 2025. To ensure consistency with the US National Hurricane Centre, names beginning with Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not used. While the UK names storms based on their forecast impact, it is worth noting that a storm named by Met Éireann or KNMI due to effects in Ireland or the Netherlands may not necessarily cause disruption on this side of the Irish Sea. As autumn settles in, the list of names serves as a reminder of the volatile weather that can strike the British Isles, and the careful preparation undertaken to mitigate its effects.