Shaun the Sheep hailed on latest list of storm names

The UK Met Office and international partners have released the list of storm names for the 2026-27 season, featuring public suggestions like 'Shaun the Sheep'. The initiative aims to improve public awareness and safety during severe weather events.
Why it matters
Naming storms is a proven meteorological strategy to increase public engagement and preparedness for extreme weather conditions.
Shaun the Sheep, right, is on the list after a public vote in collaboration with the studio behind Wallace and Gromit. Photograph: Met Office/PA Shaun the Sheep, right, is on the list after a public vote in collaboration with the studio behind Wallace and Gromit. Photograph: Met Office/PA UK weather Shaun the Sheep hailed on latest list of storm names Meteorologists release list of monikers for potential storms this season after 40,000 suggestions from public
Prefer the Guardian on Google From a five-year-old weather enthusiast to a beloved animated sheep, the inspiration for the list of storm names for this autumn and winter is wide and varied.
Austen, Boelo and Chloe will be the first named storms of this winter, meteorologists have revealed, after more than 40,000 suggestions were submitted by the public.
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