#StormHannah will affect Ireland later on Friday 26th and Wales and England into Sat. 27th but why do we name these storms and can you get your name on the list?
Met Eireann has named #StormHannah, a deep low pressure which is forecast to bring stormy weather to southern Ireland later on Friday 26th April 2019 and gales and rain across Wales and England into Saturday 27th.
This is the eighth named storm of this season. Met Eireann and occasionally the UK Met Office name low pressure systems which are forecast to bring severe weather and impacts to the UK and Ireland. The criteria have become quite mystical but it is no longer just about wind, the effects of any associated rain and snow are also considered.
Why are we doing this?
It’s about giving the public clear information about upcoming severe weather events so that they can prepare. This identity can then be used by any weather service, emergency planners, the media (newspapers, television and radio) and across social media. It is hoped that severe weather messages will be communicated in a clear and timely way.
When does a low pressure get named?
It’s all a bit woolly. Met Eireann like to name early when an Orange warning is expected. There is an orange warning for wind issued now for Hannah.The UK Met Office has been quite reluctant to name in recent times, almost appearing to be backing off from the whole project. Their warnings are impact-based rather than just reaching a certain criteria, like a set wind speed or amount of rainfall in an hour. The UK Met Office looks at time of day, location and population centres when issuing its warnings. And then if that might lead to a storm being named.
So far for 2018/19 we have had Ali- Sept, Bronagh -Sept, Callum -Oct, Deirdre-Dec, Erik-Feb, Freya- Mar and Gareth -Mar.
Who chooses these names?
When the project began Met Office and Met Eireann invited the public to send in suggestions, and the created a list from those. There were thousands of suggestions sent in so they are not accepting any more.
If a low pressure is linked to the remnants of a hurricane or Tropical storm, the low will keep its Atlantic name, so ex-tropical Storm Helene, ex-Hurricane Ophelia etc.
Why not use Q, U, X, Y or Z?
This is in keeping with the National Hurricane Centre naming convention for cyclones. These letters are not used. It is also male/female in the listing, Aileen last year and starting with Angus the year before.
More chat about the NameourStorms project on the Netweather forum.
Further details about where #StormHannah will affect in the update on Friday morning
