Met Office asks public to honour loved ones by naming a storm after them
The Met Office has launched a public appeal for new storm names, inviting individuals to honour loved ones by submitting suggestions for future severe weather events. The initiative aims to enhance communication and public awareness regarding the impacts of adverse weather conditions.
The weather service emphasises that naming storms is a vital tool for effective public and media engagement during periods of severe weather. The current 2024/25 season has already seen five named storms, with 'Eowyn' being the most recent, designated on January 21.
Prospective names undergo a rigorous selection process. Key considerations include the ease of pronunciation, potential for varied meanings across different countries, and any possibility of the name being deemed controversial.
The Met Office will work with Met Eireann in Ireland and Dutch weather service KMNI to compile the list which will reflect the diversity of the three countries.
Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'We all remember the impactful storm names of recent years.
'Whether it's Eunice, Franklin, Bert or another impactful event, the storm-naming system has helped us communicate weather to help people stay safe.
'Now we need the UK public to help us compile this year's list.
'Whether you want to honour a weather lover in your family, remember a family pet or get a friend's name in the headlines, we welcome submissions from the public to help us pull together next year's list of storm names.'
Mr Lang said storms are named because 'it works', adding: 'For Storm Eowyn in January, the UK's most powerful windstorm for over a decade, post-event surveys suggest that 99% of people within the red warning area were aware of the warnings, and 89% of them took action.'
Names are selected for each letter of the alphabet, apart from Q, U, X, Y and Z.
People are being invited to put forward names on the Met Office website, with the option to add a reason for their suggestion.
The shortlist will be announced in September.
Suggestions can be submitted at www.metoffice.gov.uk/forms/name-our-storms-call-for-names.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Climate week in Exeter comes at 'critical time', expert says
As the South West experiences its second official heat-alert in two weeks, "the evidence for climate change has never been clearer", an expert has said ahead of a week-long event. The Exeter Climate Forum is bringing together world-leading climate researchers, businesses, policymakers and young comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office issued an amber heat-health alert for five regions of England, including the South West. Professor of climate system dynamics at the University of Exeter Peter Cox said: "We've had the warmest years globally in the last two years... this is a critical time to meet up and talk about climate change." Prof Cox said: "We can see evidence that how often you exceed a threshold like 30C, or 35C or especially 40C in the UK, is going up very rapidly with climate change. "I think people are being affected by it and I think most people get it, and the issue is then, how do you connect that to action, from individuals - and individuals are absolutely critical - but also from governments. "I think some progress is being made but it's not enough. And I think more can be done and we've got all the things we need to do it really." The Exeter Climate Conference forms part of the Exeter Climate Forum and is being hosted by the University of Exeter and the Met Office. Organisers say the latest research on the impacts of climate change and "the ways humanity can avoid and adapt to worsening impacts in the future" will be discussed. A government spokesperson said: "We owe it to current generations to seize the opportunities for energy security and lower bills, and we owe it to future generations to tackle the climate crisis, by becoming a clean energy superpower."That's why we have set an ambitious new climate target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035 – which will give Britain more security, deliver jobs and economic growth."
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
UK 'to be hotter than Barbados' with temperatures set to hit a record-breaking 34C
The UK could see one of the hottest June days on record today, with temperatures reaching a scorching 34C. Since 1960, UK temperatures in June have surpassed 34C in only three years, with the hottest being 35.6C, recorded on 28 June 1976. It will be the fourth day of a heatwave for much of England, which is forecast to be hotter than holiday spots in Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico. Wimbledon is set for its hottest ever opening day, with temperatures expected to beat the previous record of 29.3C set on 25 June 2001. The hottest day of the tournament was seen on 1 July 2015, when temperatures reached 35.7C. It could also be a tropical night, with parts of England staying above 20C overnight into Tuesday, the Met Office said. On Tuesday parts of southeast England could hit 35C, though Scotland and Northern Ireland face heavy rain and cooler temperatures. An amber heat health alert came into force on Friday - the second in two weeks. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, the South East, the South East and the East of England, lasts until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands for the same period - warning of significant impacts on health and social care services. An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on 19 June, the first time it had been used since September 2023. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature between 25-28C for three consecutive days. The threshold varies across the UK. London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said London "is already facing its second heatwave of the year" and warned "high temperatures and low rainfall in recent months means the current risk of wildfires is severe". He said firefighters have responded to around 14 wildfires in the capital so far this year and said it is "important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring". "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," he said. "In London, this can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties." It comes after major heatwaves across southern Europe left Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece in sweltering conditions of more than 40C over the weekend. Temperatures were well above average in parts of southern Spain, with 46.8C recorded in Tresviso. Two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert for extreme heat and wildfires, while several Italian regions banned outdoor work during peak hours of sun on Sunday. The Italian health ministry also placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top tourist spots Rome, Milan and Naples. Greece was on high wildfire alert because of the extreme weather, after a large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, which was fanned by strong winds and damaged several houses.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Severe' risks and 'danger' warning as 35C heatwave brings hottest day of year
England could hit a record temperature for June today as Europe swelters in a 42C 'heat dome' - Met Office forecasters say UK temperatures could reach 35C Brits are bracing for the hottest day of the year today as the mercury is tipped to top 35C in places. But those lucky enough to face the warmest weather are being warned to be careful in with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing an amber alert which is in place until 6pm on Tuesday. And the head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA has urged people to check on those who are more vulnerable and take 'sensible precautions while enjoying the sun'. Holidaymakers in Europe are also being warned to keep cool as the continent swelters in a 42C 'heat dome' with ambulances on standby near tourist hotspots in Spain, Portugal, and France and heat stroke pathways set up in some hospitals in Italy. Back home parts of south-east England could then hit 35C by Tuesday, forecaster Matthew Lenhert said, which would be hotter than Barbados. And Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record, and could even see the highest temperature ever recorded during the tournament. However Londoners are being warned - London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: 'London is already facing its second heatwave of the year and we know that people will be looking forward to getting outside to enjoy the wonderful weather. 'But the high temperatures and low rainfall in recent months means the current risk of wildfires is severe. During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring. As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recently warned of the pitfalls of hot weather and is urging the public to take heat and water safety seriously - both at home and abroad. NHS figures reveal that 30 people in the UK died from excessive natural heat between 2013 and 2022, with 2022 marking a record year for heat-related deaths. Between 2013/14 and 2022/3, there were around 2,100 hospital admissions in the UK due to exposure to excessive natural heat. During 2022's heatwave, where temperatures rose past 40C, there were 320 hospitalisations - the highest number in that decade from 2013/4 to 2022/3. Looking at similar data, RoSPA's Safer Lives, Stronger Nation report also highlights a growing risk from extreme heat. Hospital admissions due to over-exposure to natural heat have more than tripled in the past two decades, rising from an average of 72 per year in the early 2000s to 232 annually in recent years. Steve Cole, Policy Director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk—it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold water shock, even in summer.' In mainland Europe, where thousands of Brits are enjoying their summer holidays, an intense heatwave has taken hold with some countries reaching temperatures of above 40C. Authorities there are urging people to seek shelter and protect the most vulnerable as punishing temperatures from Spain to Portugal, Italy and France climbed higher in the summer's first major heatwave. Ambulances were on standby near tourist hotspots and regions issued fire warnings as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Peaks of 43C were expected in areas of southern Spain and Portugal, while nearly all of France is sweltering in heat expected to last for several days. In Italy, 21 cities were on high alert for extreme heat, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome. Hospitals like the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples have set up dedicated heat stroke pathways to speed access to vital treatments like cold water immersion. In Venice, authorities offered free guided tours for people over 75's in air-conditioned museums and public buildings. Bologna has set up seven 'climate shelters' with air conditioning and drinking water, Florence has called on doctors to flag up the lonely and vulnerable, Ancona is delivering dehumidifiers to the needy, and Rome has offered free access to city swimming pools for those over 70. In Spain the national weather agency, Aemet, has issued a special warning with sweltering highs of 42C set to hit southern parts of the country in the coming days. And in Portugal, several areas in the southern half of the country, including the capital Lisbon, are under a red warning for heat until this evening due to 'persistently extremely high maximum temperature values', according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Two-thirds of Portugal was on high alert Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires, as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters tackled 15 blazes on Saturday. In Britain the amber alert for warm weather stretches across London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England. But elsewhere a yellow heat alert, less serious than amber, has also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber as well as the West Midlands. It denotes 'significant impacts' for the health and social care services. In northern and western areas people may see cloudier skies with showers or thunderstorms, particularly in northern England, the Scottish Borders, and north-east Wales. The hottest ever July 1 on record was in 2015, when the temperature hit 36.7C. The country's current record high for June rests at 35.6C, set in Southampton's Mayflower Park in 1957 and met again at Camden Square in North London in 1976. The TUC is warning that workers who are outside for lengthy periods in high temperatures are at serious risk of sunstroke, heat stress and even skin cancer. Working in hot weather can also lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: 'Nobody should have to work in unsafe circumstances, but working outside in the intense heat and sunlight of a heatwave is a serious hazard. 'Employers should allow flexible working hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and provide regular breaks, plenty of water, sunscreen, and suitable clothing. 'If you're concerned about your working conditions, joining a union is the best way to make sure that your safety is respected by your employer.'
