Bram, Fionnuala, Gerard, Patrick and Tadhg are among the new list of names selected for the 2025/2026 storm season, which starts this week.
Met Éireann, in partnership with the National Meteorological Services of the UK (Met Office) and the Netherlands (KNMI), has published the new list, having asked the public for name suggestions.
Of the list of 21 names, each of the national partners has contributed seven names.
Met Éireann had called on Ireland’s public to submit their preferred names through a social media campaign, and it says that more than 10,000 names were received from 4,137 members of the public.
The full 2025/26 list is Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg, Violet, Wubbo.
The names chosen by Met Éireann are in bold.
Letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, which is in line with the US National Hurricane Center naming convention.
Commenting on the launch, Eoin Sherlock, Head of Forecasting Division in Met Éireann, said:
“2025 marks 10 years since the storm naming initiative began and we wanted to involve Ireland’s public more than ever, so we invited them to send us their perfect storm names. There were many personal stories of friends, family, loved ones, and pets, as well as many suggestions honouring our history, culture, and literature."
"These included Bram, honouring the renowned Irish writer Bram Stoker, and Gerard, a gentleman fighting his own health battle and to whom we wish the best. Many noted how their children and grandchildren of all ages can be their own storms, such as Tadhg, who is a force of nature according to his grandmother.
“Naming storms is a powerful tool that supports us and other public safety organisations to increase awareness of severe and impactful weather alongside our weather warnings. We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up to date forecasts and safety-related information,"Sherlock said.
" A good example was Storm Éowyn last January, when our website, met.ie, received more than 3 million visits in two days. It all aids in protecting life and property across Ireland."
“Even though the process of selecting the names was a fun and light-hearted task, communicating forecast and safety messages ahead of and during every severe weather event is our highest priority. At the start of the storm season, we echo the government advice to ‘Be Winter Ready’ and prepare now for possible severe weather events to come.”
A storm is named when it could result in ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in one of the three partner countries. Naming storms allows for authoritative and consistent communications with the public to enable them to prepare for, and stay safe, during potentially severe weather events.
When a storm is forecast, the national weather service that expects the biggest impact from the severe weather or is likely to be affected first, names the storm. As well as naming a storm, relevant orange/red warnings may be issued for wind, rain, or snow, or a combination of these conditions. Any warnings issued are based on a combination of numerical criteria and the potential impacts foreseen. Up to date information on all Irish weather forecasts and warnings can be found on the Met Éireann website and app.
Since 2015, Met Éireann and the UK Met Office have been working together on the naming programme, and were joined by the Netherland’s KNMI in 2019.
Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the UK Met Office explained:
“Naming storms isn’t just about giving them a label, it’s about making sure people take notice. When a storm has a name, it becomes easier for the media and public to talk about it, share information, and prepare. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in helping communities stay safe, protect their homes, and make informed decisions ahead of severe weather.
“We know that naming storms works. We know that for Storm Floris, just a few weeks ago, surveys found that 93% of people in the amber warning area were aware of the alerts – with 83% taking action to prepare.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen how naming storms helps raise awareness and ultimately, helps save lives. It’s a simple but powerful tool in helping communities stay safe when severe weather is on the way.
“Other National Meteorological Service groups in the US and Europe also name storms. When any National Met Service names a weather system, all others keep that name, including ex-hurricanes named by the US National Hurricane Center such as Charley (25th August 1986) and Ophelia (16th October 2017), which had major impacts in Ireland when they crossed the Atlantic.”
