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Storm Goretti is sweeping across the UK, bringing a combination of powerful gusts, torrential rain and periods of snowfall.
The Met Office has put a range of amber and yellow weather warnings in place nationwide, with forecasts suggesting that some areas could see up to a foot of snow alongside winds reaching speeds of 70mph.
Of the list of 21 names, each of the national partners contributed seven, with some names chosen from pubic submissions. The Met Office takes suggestions through an online form.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are the storm names for 2026?
The 2025/26 storm names
Met Office
The 2025/26 storm naming season began in September 2025, although the first named system did not arrive until October, when Storm Amy affected the UK.
Storm Benjamin came next, but it largely impacted France, meaning the name was assigned by Météo-France rather than the Met Office.
In November 2025, Storm Claudia followed, with the name selected by Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET.
The Met Office then returned to its own list in December, naming the next storm Bram.
Storm Goretti, which is currently impacting the UK, was named by Météo-France, the French national meteorological service, because the worst impacts were expected to be felt in France and the surrounding region before it moved towards the UK.
The name itself doesn’t have a specific meteorological meaning, it is derived from a personal name (most famously associated with the Italian Saint Maria Goretti) and was part of the list used by Météo-France for the 2025–26 storm season.
The next UK based storm will be called Chandra.
Why are there no storms named with the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z?
Only 21 letters in the alphabet are included in the list of storm names as it is challenging to come up with six appropriate names (one for each of the six rotating lists), beginning with Q, U, X, Y, and Z.
You will never see your name on the list of storms if your name starts with these letters.
How are storm names chosen?
A collaboration between the Met Office, Met Éireann (the Irish meteorological service), and KNMI (the Dutch meteorological service) names storms in the UK. This naming process is designed to make the public more aware of severe weather events and to ensure that people take necessary precautions when such storms are forecasted.
Each service has chosen seven names on the alphabetical list (excluding the letters q, u, x, y and z).
Each year, the UK Met Office, in collaboration with Met Éireann and KNMI, releases a list of names for the upcoming storm season. The names are selected alphabetically, alternating between male and female names.
A storm is named when it is expected to have a significant impact, particularly if it is forecasted to bring strong winds, heavy rain, or snow that could cause substantial damage or pose a risk to life.
The decision to name a storm is based on the potential for an amber or red warning (high or very high impact) to be issued.
The Met Office and Met Éireann launched their first “Name our Storms” campaign in 2015. The tradition of naming storms began in the US in 1950 to help people “engage with weather forecasts”.
Met Éireann in April 2024 named Storm Kathleen after two Irish scientists, Kathleen McNulty and Kathleen Lonsdale.
You can learn more about the storm naming process here.
Experts say storms are named to enhance communication and public safety. A specific name makes it easier for people to remember and discuss a storm, reducing confusion, especially when multiple storms are active simultaneously.
This clarity helps consistently disseminate warnings and ensures that media, government agencies, and the public all refer to the same event.
Additionally, naming storms increases public awareness and urgency, prompting people to take necessary precautions. A named storm tends to receive more media coverage, helping to spread important safety information. Overall, the practice simplifies communication, improves preparedness, and aids in the effective coordination of emergency responses.
Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the UK Met Office said: “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.
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