Storm names list for next season includes people from Met Office’s history
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The list of named storms for the 2024/2025 storm year has been published by the Met Office.
The annual storms list – launched in 2015 to help people prepare and keep safe – runs from September until late August the following year.
James, Lewis and Mavis have been incorporated into the new list in a nod to key figures from the Met Office’s 170-year history.
James pays tribute to Group Captain James Stagg, the chief meteorologist who advised General Dwight Eisenhower on the weather forecast for the D-Day landings – a key turning point of the Second World War.
The name Lewis honours Lewis Fry Richardson, who developed a theory using maths and physics to make weather forecasts using computers.
Mavis recognises the achievements of Mavis Hinds, who worked on the earliest Met Office computers.
Will Lang, who leads responses in times of severe weather for the Met Office, said: “This year, as we celebrate our 170th birthday, it’s great to be able to honour those who have had an impact on our long history of pioneering weather and climate science services.”
Along with Met Eireann in Ireland and KNMI, the Dutch weather service, meteorologists name storms to alert people to the danger of extreme weather before it strikes.
According to the Met Office, post-storm surveys suggest naming storms does help raise awareness, with 97% of those within the amber and red warning areas for Storm Babet being aware of the warnings, and 89% of these taking action as a result.
Why Storm Babet brought so much rain – and why we’re likely to see more storms like it
The first storm in each storm year begins with the letter A, with this year’s being Ashley. The names of the next storms follow the alphabetical list of pre-agreed names.
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Last week Storm Lilian, which brought strong winds exceeding 70mph to northern parts of England and Wales, became the 12th named storm of the 2023/24 season and the first time the letter L has been reached.
The full list for 2024/25 is: Ashley, Bert, Conall, Darragh, Eowyn, Floris, Gerben, Hugo, Izzy, James, Kayleigh, Lewis, Mavis, Naoise, Otje, Poppy, Rafi, Sayuri, Tilly, Vivienne and Wren.
