Met Office releases 2026-27 UK storm name list

On Tuesday, 1 September, the UK officially entered its storm season, with the Met Office announcing a fresh roster of names for the year. The new list includes Austen, Chloe and Evelyn, among others, and will be used to label significant weather systems that bring high winds, heavy rain or other severe conditions across the country.

The naming system, introduced to improve public communication and awareness, follows the same format used by the Irish Meteorological Service. Each name is chosen in advance and applied to storms that meet specific meteorological criteria, such as sustained wind speeds or rainfall thresholds. The Met Office will release names in advance of the season, allowing communities and media to prepare and respond more effectively.

The start of the season signals that residents should stay alert to weather updates and heed any local advisories. With the new names in place, the public can more easily track and discuss potential impacts as storms develop over the coming months.