Major storms, hurricanes, cyclones and Weather phenomena tend to give their own name.
Many will remember the nationwide devastation caused by Storm Eunice last year, including the roof being ripped off the O2 Arena.
The UK is currently preparing for Storm Otto to hit our shores.
But why do storms have names, and what will the rest of the storms be named in 2023?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What are the names of the storms of 2023?
Storm Otto is the UK’s first official storm of the 2022/23 season – but it’s not called ‘Antoni’ because the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) had the honor of naming it as this country is expected to be hit by more severe weather. .
Why do storms have names?
It’s just to help people become more aware of inclement weather.
The idea is that when you hear a storm by name you’ll know to expect heavy rain, dangerous winds or snowfall.
The Met Office and Irish counterpart Met Éireann decided to start naming storms after a survey revealed that people became more aware of extreme weather warnings when the storm was given a name.
In response to the results, a list of names was compiled from suggestions from the public that have given us Storm Abigail and Storm Doris in recent years.
Many will remember the disastrous February 2022 Storm Eunice, which quickly followed the damage caused by Storm Dudley.
However, naming storms is not a new phenomenon, as the US National Hurricane Center has named tropical storms since 1953. This makes it easier to refer to Atlantic tropical storms when tracking them and ensures that the public always knows exactly which a storm is on its way.
Since the mid-Atlantic regions are so often plagued by tropical storms that develop into hurricanes, it makes sense to distinguish between them – with the US and the Caribbean suffering heavy damage from Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Recent years.
When is a storm called?
A name is given to a storm when it is expected to reach one orange or red warning level.
Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service’s Severe Weather Warning Service when extreme weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow, ice, fog and high temperatures are forecast.
Red, orange, yellow or green weather warnings are based on National Severe Weather Warning Service guidance and are decided by a combination of both the effects the weather may have and the likelihood of those effects occurring.
Once the storm meets the criteria to be named, either Met Éireann or the Met Office will publicly name the storm, adhering to the established list.
How are names chosen?
The Met Office publishes a list of storm names before each winter season. The list runs from the beginning of September to the end of August of the following year.
The Met Office works with Met Éireann and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) to name storms based on suggestions sent in by the public.
Email your own suggestions nameourstorms@metoffice.gov.uk.
Why are storms never given Q, U, X, Y or Z names?
Looking at the list above, you’ll notice that storms in the UK and Ireland do not start with the letters Q, U, X, Y or Z.
All three of the aforementioned organizations behind storm naming mention this when they announce new names, stating that the decision is to remain “consistent with the naming convention of the US National Hurricane Center.”
It also “maintains consistency for the official naming of storms in the North Atlantic.”
He explained: “The Eastern Pacific uses X, Y and Z, while the Atlantic does not… the Eastern Pacific averages more named storms per year. So, more names are needed in an average time and there is a higher probability [of reaching] the end of the list.”
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