Named Storms: How Weather Services Choose Nomenclatures

Introduction

Storms, especially when severe, have a lasting impact on communities and the environment. Weather services worldwide have adopted formal naming systems for storms to enhance communication, facilitate warnings, and improve public awareness. This article provides an overview of the naming conventions employed by various weather services, focusing on five countries: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom.

European Cooperation: EUMETNET and MeteoFrance

In Europe, the EUMETNET group of national meteorological services coordinates storm naming. MeteoFrance, the French meteorological service, holds the responsibility of naming storms that are expected to affect France and neighboring regions.

MeteoFrance maintains a list of names, alternating male and female names, that are used in alphabetical order. Once a storm is named, it retains that name throughout its lifetime, regardless of its intensity or location.

Spain: AEMET

The Spanish meteorological service, AEMET, assigns names to storms based on a predetermined list established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.

AEMET uses a rotating list of 21 names, with six names reserved for each year. The names alternate between male and female and are typically common Spanish names or names of saints.

Portugal: IPMA

The Portuguese meteorological service, IPMA, follows a similar naming convention to AEMET. IPMA uses a predetermined list of 21 names provided by the WMO for the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.

The list includes common Portuguese names and alternates between male and female names. Once a storm is named, it keeps that name until it dissipates or moves out of the IPMA's area of responsibility.

Belgium: IRM

The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (IRM) also uses a rotating list of 21 names provided by the WMO for the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.

IRM's list alternates between male and female names, and the names are typically common Belgian names or names of saints. Storms are named in alphabetical order, and the same name is not used again for at least ten years.

United Kingdom: Met Office

The Met Office, the United Kingdom's meteorological service, also employs a rotating list of names for storms. The Met Office's list includes both male and female names and alternates between the two.

The Met Office names storms only when they are expected to have a significant impact on the United Kingdom. The names are chosen to be memorable and easy to pronounce.

Conclusion

The naming of storms by weather services is a crucial aspect of storm communication and awareness. By assigning names to storms, these services can provide clear and concise information to the public, facilitating timely warnings and promoting preparedness. The coordinated efforts of weather services across Europe ensure that storms are named consistently and effectively.