Weather: how are storm names chosen?

Published by Caroline de Sortiraparis · Photos by My de Sortiraparis · Published on January 6, 2025 at 09:28 a.m.
Storms are not uncommon in France, and Météo France regularly issues warnings of "strong winds". This Monday, January 6, 2025, storm Floriane is sweeping across France. But why name storms? And how is a storm's name chosen? We answer your questions.

The weather in France can be capricious. Heavy rain, snow and ice, strong winds... In France, violent gales are not an uncommon phenomenon. After Caetano on November 22, 2024 and Enol on December 22, France is preparing to face a new storm named Floriane.

But why do some storms have names? And how does this naming system work? How do you choose a storm name? Météo France explains that the names given to storms enable us to " communicate more effectively when a violent wind phenomenon is approaching ". According to a survey, the population is " more attentive to safety instructions when the threat of strong winds is clearly identified as being linked to a named storm ", explains the weather service.

So Météo France joined forces with the meteorological services of four other European countries: AEMET for Spain, IPMA for Portugal, IRM for Belgium and METEOLUX for Luxembourg. Together, they are monitoring"stormy lows" likely to affect any of these five countries.

When a low-pressure system is likely to trigger at least orange-level wind vigilance over one of the countries concerned, a name is assigned to the storm. Specifically, the meteorological service " which plans to issue the first orange or red alert assigns a name " to this storm " from the pre-established list and informs the others ", explains Météo France on its website.

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Yes, a list of storm names is published every year by these five weather services. Discover the storm names chosen by France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Luxembourg for the coming season:

  • Floriane
  • Garoe
  • Herminia
  • Ivo
  • Jana
  • Konrad
  • Laurence
  • Martinho
  • Nuria
  • Olivier
  • Pauline
  • Rudiger
  • Salma
  • Timothee
  • Vanda
  • Wolfgang

Note, however, that when a storm first hits Ireland, Great Britain or the Netherlands, the name chosen by these weather services is used. " And the reverse also applies ", says Météo France, adding that "an extension of this coordination to all European countries is planned ".

Practical information

Official website
meteofrance.com

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