Met Office releases storm names for 2020 and 2021 - here’s the full list

The Met Office, along with partners Met Éireann and KNMI, has revealed the list of storm names for the UK, Ireland and Netherlands for the next season (Photo: Shutterstock)The Met Office, along with partners Met Éireann and KNMI, has revealed the list of storm names for the UK, Ireland and Netherlands for the next season (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Met Office, along with partners Met Éireann and KNMI, has revealed the list of storm names for the UK, Ireland and Netherlands for the next season (Photo: Shutterstock)

The Met Office, along with partners Met Éireann and KNMI, has revealed the list of storm names for the UK, Ireland and Netherlands for the next season.

But what are they? Here’s what you need to know.

What are the storm names for 2020 and 2021?

The Name our Storms collaboration, which has been helping to raise awareness of the potential impact of severe weather before it arrives, is now coming into its sixth year.

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Similar to previous years, the 2020/2021 list has been compiled from names that have been suggested by the public, along with names that reflect the diversity of the three nations.

From 1st September 2020, the first storm that impacts the UK, Ireland and/or the Netherlands will be named ‘Aiden’.

This is the full list of storm names for 2020/21:

- Aiden

- Bella

- Christoph

- Darcy

- Evert

- Fleur

- Gavin

- HeulwenIain

- Julia

- Klaas

- Lilah

- Minne

- Naia

- Oscar

- Phoebe

- Ravi

- Saidhbhín

- Tobias

- Veronica

- Wilson

Why are some letters missing?

The letters Q, U, Y, Z and X are not included in the list.

This is to ensure the list is in line with the US National Hurricane Centre naming convention so that consistency can be maintained for national storm names in the North Atlantic.

The Met Office explains that the criteria it uses for naming storms is based on the National Severe Weather Warnings service.

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This is based on a combination of both the impact the weather may have, and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.

A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause an amber or red warning, but other weather types will also be considered, specifically rain, if its impact could lead to flooding as advised by the Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales flood warnings.

Will Lang, Head of the National Severe Weather Warning Service at the Met Office, said: “We are now entering our sixth year of the Name our Storms campaign and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues in Ireland and the Netherlands once again, continuing to raise awareness of the potential impacts of severe weather in order to keep people across our nations safe.

“The impacts from Storm Ciara and Dennis earlier this year are still fresh in many people's minds and although it’s too early to anticipate what weather this autumn and winter will bring, we are prepared with a new list of names to help raise awareness of severe weather before it hits.”