MET ÉIREANN, ALONG with its counterparts in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, has released the list of new storm names for the 2024/2025 storm season, which starts on Sunday 1 September.
The three meteorological services have contributed seven names each to this season’s list.
Met Éireann’s contributions have been taken from a list of more than 500 suggestions by primary school children participating in ESB Science Blast last February.
The seven Irish choices are Conall, Darragh, Hugo, Izzy, Naoise, Poppy and Vivienne.
The full 2024/25 list is as follows:
The letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, in line with the US National Hurricane Centre naming convention, Met Éireann said.
Eoin Sherlock, head of the forecasting division in Met Éireann, said the agency’s priority is “to help protect life and property from extreme weather and ensure the safety of our communities”.
He said that “year after year” the naming of storms proves effective in achieving that aim.
“Naming each storm increases the level of public safety and preparedness as people are more likely to remember and respond to warnings when storms are named,” Sherlock explained.
He added that Ireland, “and the world,” are experiencing the effects of severe weather events more frequently and more intensely because of climate change.
“We see how severe wind and rain events can directly impact public health, safety, and livelihoods. Now more than ever, it is crucial for younger generations to understand these risks so that they can safeguard their future by driving societal change, and their involvement in the names selection this year is proof of Met Éireann’s commitment to support their weather and climate awareness.”
He encouraged the public to “be winter ready” and prepare ahead of storm season.
Storms are named when they could cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in one of the three partner countries, Met Éireann explained.
Since 2015, Met Éireann and the UK Met Office have been working together on the naming programme and were joined by the Netherland’s KNMI in 2019.
UK Met Office Head of Situational Awareness Will Lang, said:
“This is the tenth year of us naming storms and we do it because it works. Naming storms helps to make communication of severe weather easier and provides clarity when people could be impacted by the weather.”
KNMI senior forecaster and team manager Jos Diepeveen said:
“Through recognizable names, we hope to reach as many people as possible with our warning before the weather strikes.”
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