The UK’s national weather service, the Met Office, has initiated a public engagement campaign to select a name for an upcoming storm. In a move that blends meteorology with popular culture, the agency has presented the public with a choice between two names inspired by the Aardman Animations character Shaun the Sheep: 'Shaun' and his cousin 'Timmy'.

This initiative is part of the Met Office’s broader effort to name storms, a practice designed to raise awareness of severe weather events and improve public safety communication. By involving the public in the naming process, the agency aims to increase engagement with weather warnings. While the Met Office has not yet specified which storm system will be assigned these names, the inclusion of iconic animated characters reflects a trend of using recognizable monikers to ensure that severe weather alerts gain traction across social media and news platforms. The vote is currently open, and the winning name will be added to the official list of storm names for the upcoming season.