Bram, Fionnuala and Marty are among 21 new names for the upcoming storm season in Ireland.
Met Éireann, along with the national weather services of the UK and the Netherlands, has released the list of new storm names for the 2025/2026 storm season, which starts today, running until 31 August 2026.
Each of the three respective meteorological services has contributed seven names to this season’s list.
Met Éireann had called on Ireland’s public to submit their preferred names through a social media campaign. More than 10,000 names were received from 4,137 members of the public.
The seven names chosen by Met Éireann are: Bram, Fionnuala, Gerard, Kasia, Marty, Patrick and Tadhg.
The remaining 14 storm names are: Amy, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Lilith, Nico, Oscar, Ruby, Stevie, Violet and Wubbo.
Letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, which is in line with the US National Hurricane Center naming convention.
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.
Head of Forecasting Division in Met Éireann Eoin Sherlock, said: “There were many personal stories of friends, family, loved ones, and pets, as well as many suggestions honouring our history, culture, and literature.
“These included Bram, honouring the renowned Irish writer Bram Stoker, and Gerard, a gentleman fighting his own health battle and to whom we wish the best.”
Mr Sherlock said many who submitted names noted how their children and grandchildren of all ages can “be their own storms”, such as Tadhg, “who is a force of nature according to his grandmother”.
He said naming storms is a powerful tool that supports Met Éireann and other public safety organisations to increase awareness of severe and impactful weather alongside weather warnings.
“We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up to date forecasts and safety-related information,” he said.
He cited Storm Éowyn last January as a good example, when met.ie received more than 3 million visits in two days.
“It all aids in protecting life and property across Ireland,” Mr Sherlock said.
He said communicating forecast and safety messages ahead of and during every severe weather event is Met Éireann’s “highest priority”, despite the fun and light-hearted task of selecting names.
“At the start of the storm season, we echo the Government advice to ‘Be Winter Ready’ and prepare now for possible severe weather events to come,” he said.
Storm Éowyn in January brought record gusts to Ireland
A storm is named when it could result in ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in one of the three partner countries.
Naming storms allows for authoritative and consistent communications with the public to enable them to prepare for, and stay safe, during potentially severe weather events.
When a storm is forecast, the national weather service that expects the biggest impact from the severe weather or is likely to be affected first, names the storm.
As well as naming a storm, relevant orange/red warnings may be issued for wind, rain, or snow, or a combination of these conditions.
Any warnings issued are based on a combination of numerical criteria and the potential impacts foreseen.
Up to date information on all Irish weather forecasts and warnings can be found on the Met Éireann website and app.
During Storm Éowyn, a gust of 184km/h was recorded at Mace Head Co Galway on 24 January 2025.
This is provisionally the strongest gust speed ever recorded in Ireland, breaking the previous record of 182km/h set at Foynes, Co Limerick, in 1945.
Prior to Storm Éowyn, the last hurricane force winds observed on land for Ireland were during Storm Darwin on 12 February 2014 with gusts up to 159 km/h.