The Met Office has announced the official list of storm names for the 2026-27 winter season, featuring a mix of traditional and unconventional choices, including the animated character Shaun the Sheep. This season’s roster also incorporates names inspired by lively children, mischievous pets, and tributes to pioneering meteorological figures.

The initial storms slated to hit include Austen, Boelo, and Chloe. The name Austen honors Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service, while Evelyn pays tribute to Evelyn Murphy, Ireland’s first female weather presenter on national television. These selections were made by Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, as part of their contributions to the naming list. The Met Office, the UK’s meteorological agency, and the Dutch KNMI agency jointly coordinate the naming process, considering factors such as ease of pronunciation, avoidance of controversial or confusing names, and cultural sensitivities across their respective countries.

This year's list stems from more than 40,000 public submissions, with many names reflecting personal stories. For instance, Chloe was suggested multiple times, including by the mother of a five-year-old weather enthusiast who, as described, “can create a storm by herself” when tired. Other names carry similar inspiration: Ivy commemorates a spirited nine-month-old Labrador puppy referred to by its owners as “the absolute destructor,” Finn honors a two-year-old boy noted for his untamed energy, and Theo is named after a cat believed to sense impending bad weather.

In a novel collaboration to generate public interest and engagement, the Met Office partnered with Aardman Animations, creators of Shaun the Sheep and Wallace and Gromit, to incorporate a character from their portfolio into the storm list. Shaun the Sheep was ultimately chosen through a public vote to represent the 2026-27 season. This marks the twelfth year the UK’s Met Office has employed named storms as a communication tool. Officials state that naming storms helps the public better understand forecasts and warnings, thereby encouraging preventative action to safeguard people and property.

Met Office head of warnings and guidance Holly Clements emphasized the effectiveness of the naming system, stating that named storms provide a clearer focus and urgency for severe weather alerts. Met Éireann’s Eoin Sherlock echoed the view, highlighting that the practice facilitates easier tracking of important weather information.

While some have questioned whether using an animated character like Shaun the Sheep might risk undermining the seriousness of storm warnings, the Met Office has not commented directly on these concerns. Past research into storm naming and public perception has provided mixed results, with some studies suggesting certain names influence risk assessment, though these findings remain debated.

The 2026-27 storm naming list contains 21 names, avoiding letters such as Q, U, X, Y, and Z to align with naming conventions used by the US National Hurricane Center, which exclude letters with fewer common name options. This continued approach aims to maintain clarity and consistency for international weather communication.