The UK Met Office has officially named Storm Chandra, which is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and other hazards across the country. The areas most at risk are South-west England and Northern Ireland.
Previously, Portugal’s Met Service named Storm Ingrid. This storm mainly affected north-west Iberia, parts of Ireland, and south-west England.
To keep communications consistent, meteorological agencies in the region adopt the same storm names. The UK Met Office works with Ireland’s Met Eireann and the Netherlands’ KNMI to identify storms expected to have medium to high impact.
How Storms Are Named
For the 2025-26 season, Amy and Bram were the first storms. Upcoming storms on the list include Dave and Eddie.
Will Lang, Head of Situational Awareness at the Met Office, explains that naming storms helps people understand severe weather warnings and take precautions. After Storm Floris in August 2025, 93% of people in amber warning zones were aware of the alerts, and 83% took action to stay safe.
Storm History in the UK
Storm Floris caused significant damage in August. Weather patterns change each year, and some seasons have clusters of storms. For example, in February 2022, storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin all occurred within a week. Storm Eunice brought a record gust of 122 mph to the Isle of Wight.
Climate Change and Storms
Climate change increases the risk of floods and heavy rain. While it’s harder to directly link climate change to individual storms, research suggests that strong winds may become more frequent, especially in north-west Europe. Rising sea levels and stronger storms will worsen coastal impacts, including high waves and flooding.
