Storm Éowyn, as seen from space on January 24th. Credit NASA

Met Éireann is calling on the public to help name the storms that could impact Ireland in the year ahead, as part of its annual naming initiative with the UK and Dutch national weather services.

Running from September to the following August, storm season is a key period for Ireland’s forecasters. To aid public awareness and safety, storms that are likely to bring medium or high impacts — such as strong winds, heavy rainfall or snow — are given official names in advance of their arrival.

This year, for the first time since the initiative began, Met Éireann is actively inviting members of the public to suggest names for the 2025/2026 storm season. Anyone aged 18 or over — whether an individual, community group, school or organisation — can submit a name, along with a short explanation of their choice.

Once the deadline passes, Met Éireann will draw up a shortlist before meeting with the UK Met Office and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), who jointly agree on the final list. Each country contributes roughly a third of the 21 names chosen.

Storm names are selected according to a few key guidelines:

Names must not begin with the letters Q, U, X, Y or Z, in line with international storm naming conventions.
Submissions should reflect the diversity of Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands.
Previously used names are not repeated — recent seasons have included Ciarán, Debi, Barra and Ophelia.

The finalised list for 2025/26 will be published on 1st September 2025.

Since storm naming began in 2015, the initiative has become a trusted and effective tool in communicating weather risks to the public. When a storm is expected to bring widespread disruption, giving it a name helps ensure the message cuts through — enabling communities to prepare and respond.

The meteorological service expecting the greatest impact from a storm — or the one first in its path — is responsible for naming it. Storms are named in alphabetical order, beginning with ‘A’ each autumn.

Previous storm names lists:

2015/16: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon, Wendy

2016/17: Angus, Barbara, Conor, Doris, Ewan, Fleur, Gabriel, Holly, Ivor, Jacqui, Kamil, Louise, Malcolm, Natalie, Oisin, Penelope, Robert, Susan, Thomas, Valerie, Wilbert

2017/18: Aileen, Brian, Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn, Georgina, Hector, Iona, James, Karen, Larry, Maeve, Niall, Octavia, Paul, Rebecca, Simon, Tali, Victor, Winifred

2018/19: Ali, Bronagh, Callum, Deirdre, Erik, Freya, Gareth, Hannah, Idris, Jane, Kevin, Lily, Max, Niamh, Oliver, Peggy, Ross, Saoirse, Trystan, Violet, Wyn

2019/20: Atiyah, Brendan, Ciara, Dennis, Ellen, Francis, Gerda, Hugh, Iris, Jan, Kitty, Liam, Maura, Noah, Olivia, Piet, Roisin, Samir, Tara, Vince, Willow

2020/21: Aiden, Bella, Christoph, Darcy, Evert, Fleur, Gavin, Heulwen, Iain, Julia, Klaas, Lilah, Minne, Naia, Oscar, Phoebe, Ravi, Saidhbhín, Tobias, Veronica, Wilson

2021/22: Arwen, Barra, Corrie, Dudley, Eunice, Franklin, Gladys, Herman, Imani, Jack, Kim, Logan, Méabh, Nasim, Olwen, Pól, Ruby, Seán, Tineke, Vergil, Willemien

2022/23: Antoni, Betty, Cillian, Daisy, Elliot, Fleur, Glen, Hendrika, Íde, Johanna, Khalid, Loes, Mark, Nelly, Owain, Priya, Ruadhán, Sam, Tobias, Vanessa, Wouter

2023/24: Agnes, Babet, Ciarán, Debi, Elin, Fergus, Gerrit, Henk, Isha, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Lilian, Minnie, Nicholas, Olga, Piet, Regina, Stuart, Tamiko, Vincent, Walid

2024/25: Ashley, Bert, Conall, Darragh, Éowyn, Floris, Gerben, Hugo, Izzy, James, Kayleigh, Lewis, Mavis, Naoise, Otje, Poppy, Rafi, Sayuri, Tilly, Vivienne, Wren

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