In early september, Meteo France published the list of 21 names selected for storms likely to affect the french territory during the storm season 2026 - 2027
Since 1954, the University of Berlin had been naming all anticyclones and low-pressure systems affecting Europe. In 2017, a new arrangement was introduced between countries in south-western Europe. Under this system, the French weather service (Météo-France), the Spanish weather service (AEMET) and the Portuguese weather service (IPMA) select the names of storms likely to affect their respective territories. The Belgian weather service (IRM) and the Luxembourg weather service (MeteoLux) joined them in 2021, followed by Andorra’s meteorological service in 2025.
In rotation, one of the six countries in the South-West group proposes a list of names, which is published in early September, before the start of the winter storms season. For the 2026–2027 season, Météo-France selected the 21 names following an online public consultation.
Other groups of meteorological services are responsible for the rest of Europe. For example, the “West” group brings together the Met Office (United Kingdom), Met Éireann (Ireland) and KNMI (the Netherlands). This group also publishes a list of 21 names in early September, based on a joint selection by the three weather services.
Like Météo-France’s list, the “West” group’s list received input in 2026 from more than 40,000 name suggestions submitted by members of the public in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The World Meteorological Organization, meanwhile, is responsible for naming low-pressure systems in the rest of the world, outside Europe.
Why name Storms?
Naming the most severe storms helps raise public awareness more effectively of the safety measures that need to be taken.
According to the Met Office, for Storm Goretti in January 2026, post-event surveys suggest that 93% of people within the amber warning area were aware of the warnings and 88% of them took action, such as staying in, not driving and shopping earlier.
When do we decide to name a storm?
A low-pressure system is named by the European “South-West” group only if it is likely to trigger at least an orange-level wind warning in one of the six member countries. The same rule applies to the “West” group, which names a low-pressure system when it is expected to affect Ireland, Great Britain or the Netherlands first and to reach an intensity that warrants an “amber alert”.
The weather service that decides to issue the first orange or red warning assigns a name to the storm system from its group’s published list and informs the other services. The low-pressure system responsible for the storm retains the same name throughout its entire life cycle, regardless of its trajectory. This coordination now also extends to Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
Thus, Storm Austen, the first storm of the 2026–2027 winter season, was named by the “West” group, following a proposal from Ireland, and retained its name when it reached mainland France
Sources : Météo France, Met Office