A brand new storm, Storm Bram, has been named by the authorities and is forecast to carry robust winds and heavy rain throughout the UK — together with London — on Tuesday and Wednesday.
That means Londoners ought to put together for disruption, from potential transport delays and difficult journey circumstances, to energy‑outages, moist climate on the streets, and the same old hazards introduced by robust winter storms.
It’s a superb time to double‑examine any journey or supply plans, safe free gadgets outside, and keep alert to climate warnings till Bram passes.
Storm naming season runs from September to the next August every year, with the climate company deciding on storm names forward of time for use all year long.
Vehicles drive through flood water during storm Amy
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How are storms given their names?
Since 2015, the Met Office has been naming storms that it considers will have a medium or high impact potential in the UK – as well as its partners in Ireland and the Netherlands.
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.”
Storms are named when they’re deemed to have the potential to cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.
“Wind is the primary consideration for naming a storm, but additional impacts from rain or snow will also be considered in the naming process,” the Met Office states.
Who decides on the name of a storm?
The Met Office comes up with the names in partnership with its Irish and Dutch equivalents, Met Éireann and KNMI. It means that Dutch and Irish names are in the mix alongside English ones.
Anyone can suggest a storm name, and the Met Office receives hundreds of concepts every year. It then meets Met Éireann and KNMI to finalise the alternatives. The Met Workplace receives nominations via social media and e-mail.
Eoin Sherlock, head of forecasting division in Met Éireann mentioned: “Our key precedence is to assist defend life and property from excessive climate and make sure the security of our communities. 12 months after 12 months, storm naming proves efficient for that. Naming every storm will increase the extent of public security and preparedness as persons are extra more likely to bear in mind and reply to warnings when storms are named.”
AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Within the case of Storm Bram, Met Éireann (Eire’s meteorological service) chosen the identify as a result of the storm is predicted to have an effect on Eire and the UK. The naming helps talk the severity of the storm to the general public and makes warnings simpler to comply with.
Right here’s a listing of all of the storm names you’ll be able to anticipate within the coming season.
- Amy
- Bram
- Chandra
- Dave
- Eddie
- Fionnuala
- Gerard
- Hannah
- Isla
- Janna
- Kasia
- Lilith
- Marty
- Nico
- Oscar
- Patrick
- Ruby
- Stevie
- Tadgh
- Violet
- Wubbo
