The first day of September is more than just the start of autumn on the meteorological calendar. It also marks the arrival of a fresh storm season and with it, a brand-new list of names.

For 2025/26, the UK Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Netherlands’ KNMI have unveiled the chosen names, beginning with Amy, Bram and Chandra. These names will be assigned to storms expected to bring significant impacts such as strong winds, flooding, or widespread disruption.

2025/26 UK Storm Name List

Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg and Violet.

The selection comes from more than 50,000 public suggestions across the three countries. Some carry personal stories, such as “Dave,” submitted in memory of a husband who, according to the nominator, “could snore louder than any storm.” Another, “Stevie,” was inspired by a child named after a Stevie Nicks song with the lyric, “Thunder only happens when it’s raining.”

Why Storms Are Named

Since 2015, storms in the UK and Ireland have been named to improve communication and safety. A name is applied when a weather system is expected to trigger amber or red warnings, helping the public quickly recognize and prepare for dangerous conditions.

Recent surveys show the system works. For Storm Floris in August 2025, 93% of people in amber warning areas were aware of the alerts, with 83% taking action.

How Naming Works in Europe

The UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands form the western storm-naming group. Other European groups include Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg in the southwest, and Norway, Sweden, and Denmark in the north.

If the remnants of a tropical storm cross the Atlantic, the system keeps its original name. For example, ex-Hurricane Erin kept its name when it brought heavy swell to southwest England in August.

Last Season in Numbers

The 2024/25 season produced six named storms. Among them, Storm Floris brought summer gales of up to 82mph in Scotland, while Storm Eowyn in January became the UK’s strongest storm in over a decade, with winds surpassing 135mph. By contrast, 2023/24 saw 12 named storms, the busiest season since naming began.

Climate Change and Future Storms

Experts say long-term storm patterns are harder to track, as wind activity shifts naturally over decades. However, sea-level rise is expected to worsen storm surges and coastal flooding. Heavier rainfall events are also more likely in a warming climate, making storm impacts more complex than just strong winds.