Why hasn't the UK had any named storms yet?
By Chris Fawkes, Sarah Keith-Lucas, Matt Taylor, Lead Weather Presenters
With November already upon us, the UK has yet to experience its first named storm of the season. Typically, turbulent conditions caused by deep Atlantic lows would have already made their way across the country, but this year, dominant areas of high pressure have steered them away.
The Calm Before the Storm?
The absence of named storms this autumn can be attributed to several factors. As autumn progresses, temperature drops in polar regions, creating a contrast with the warmer tropics. This intensifies the jet stream, a fast-moving band of winds high in the atmosphere, which plays a crucial role in developing and delivering storm systems.
This season, the jet stream has largely remained to the north or north-west of the UK, preventing wet and windy weather from reaching the country. As a result, southern England has experienced exceptionally low rainfall, with Herefordshire recording only a tenth of its usual amount by mid-October. This has led to the Environment Agency declaring "severe drought" in some areas.
A Shift in the Weather
However, a change is on the horizon. The jet stream is expected to shift its position and strengthen over the coming week, allowing deeper low-pressure systems to impact more parts of the UK. This shift could bring widespread wet and windy weather, with the potential for disruptive storms later in the week.
The Met Office's three-month outlook for October, November, and December predicts a higher chance of wetter and windier weather, consistent with previous El Niño events. This suggests that while the start of the storm season has been quiet, the UK could be in for more intense weather later in the autumn and early winter.
Named Storms: When and Why?
Storms are typically named when they are expected to bring potentially damaging winds, but they can also be named for significant flooding rain or disruptive snow. The practice of naming storms began to raise public awareness of severe weather, helping people prepare and plan ahead for its impacts. In Europe, various meteorological agencies collaborate to create five storm naming groups.