The UK Met Office has officially released the list of names designated for the 2026-2027 storm season. This initiative is part of a collaborative effort between the UK’s Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Netherlands’ KNMI, a partnership that has been in place since 2015 to help standardize storm identification and improve public awareness.

The selection process for the upcoming season involved significant public participation, with the agencies receiving roughly 40,000 name suggestions from the public. Among the names included in the new list are Austen, Chloe, Evelyn, Olaf, Boelo, and Shaun. The announcement coincides with the start of the storm season, which officially began on September 1.

While the BBC focused on the start of the season and highlighted specific names like Austen, Chloe, and Evelyn, The Independent emphasized the collaborative nature of the international agencies and the high volume of public engagement in the naming process. Both outlets confirm that the naming convention remains a joint effort between the three European meteorological organizations, aimed at ensuring consistent communication during severe weather events.