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A NEW STORM season is officially here, and the list of names for the season has landed, complete with a mix of traditional, quirky, and downright charming choices.
Met Éireann, alongside the UK Met Office and the Netherlands’ KNMI, has unveiled 21 names for the upcoming season, which runs until 31 August 2026.
The full 2025/26 list is as follows:
The letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, in line with the US National Hurricane Centre naming convention, Met Éireann said.
This year, Met Éireann put the public in charge, asking Ireland to suggest their ideal storm names through a social media campaign.
The response was overwhelming: more than 10,000 names were submitted by 4,137 people, with contributions inspired by family, pets, literature, history, and, occasionally, a healthy sense of humour.
The Irish picks are: Bram, Fionnuala, Gerard, Kasia, Marty, Patrick, and Tadhg.
The name Gerard was nominated by friends and family of a man currently facing serious health challenges. According to the submission, “Gerard is weathering his own storm at the moment.”
“This would make his day if there was a storm named after him,” the submission read.
The submission for Fionnuala simply read: ”My daughter’s name… Good strong name! What you’d expect from a storm.”
Marty was chosen in memory of a grandfather who passed away in 2013. He was described as hardworking, dependable, and deeply connected to his family.
“He was an outstanding role model for me, my family and everyone who knew him,” the submission to Met Éireann said.
Kasia, a name of Polish origin, was nominated to Met Éireann to “recognise other nationalities living in Ireland and their heritage that make Ireland even more versatile”.
Tadhg, the name of a seven-year-old grandson, was described by his grandparent as “a real force of nature.”
“From being a very sick baby at birth he is now a strong healthy boy who loves hurling, soccer, dance and music and is excelling in school. He is our 7-year-old whirlwind who just never stops!”
Other interesting picks include Stevie – nominated to the UK Met Office for a little girl named after the Fleetwood Mac song Dreams (sung by Stevie Nicks), which includes the line: “Thunder only happens when it’s raining.”
The name Wubbo was submitted to Dutch forecasters as a tribute to Wubbo Ockels, the first Dutchman to fly through space.
Oscar was picked in the UK based on two submissions describing cats with the same name.
One cat, Oscar, was described as “a good boy, but crazy when he gets the zoomies,” while another was remembered fondly for “loving the wind in his fur—he’d sit in the garden for ages just enjoying it.”
Finally, Dave was chosen by the UK Met Office based on this submission: “My beloved husband who can snore three times louder than any storm!”
Eoin Sherlock, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann, said: “Naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up to date forecasts and safety-related information.
“There were many personal stories of friends, family, loved ones, and pets, as well as many suggestions honouring our history, culture, and literature,” Sherlock added.
Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the UK Met Office, said that when a storm has a name, it “becomes easier” for the media and public to share information and prepare.
“Naming storms helps raise awareness and ultimately, helps save lives,” Hicks said.
Storms are named when forecasters expect medium or high impacts in Ireland, the UK, or the Netherlands.
Met Éireann stressed that while the names are fun, safety remains the top priority.
Last year, six storms swept across Ireland, including Storm Éowyn, which reached gusts of 184km/h, the strongest ever recorded on land.
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