Next named storm - what will it be called and when will it come?
A brighter, colder end to the week could be followed by rain and stronger winds. With Chloe next on the storm-naming list, here’s what would need to happen before that name makes the headlines
The UK in what weather forecasters call a "quiet spell" at the moment, with no widespread rain, calm winds, and gloomy, cloudy, even quite foggy conditions dominating.
The good news is the skies are clearing after today and we're seeing out the week on a much brighter, albeit much colder note.
After the weekend, things get more interesting though, as we lose the ridge that's been keeping low pressure systems at bay, and a more normal autumnal outlook begins, with showery rain, stronger breezes, and plenty of cloud.
This unsettled period looks set to see out November, and could stick around for much of December, but the big question will be whether it will bring any storms in with it.
What are the chances of a named storm before the end of November?
Surprisingly high. The unsettled weather is because we're importing low pressure systems from the Atlantic, and over this huge body of water to our south west there's plenty of opportunity for convection, which is what can whip up a storm.
Storms further out in the tropics can also get swept in if the jet stream peps up and, while they'll have lost a lot of their potency along the way, they can still cause some disruption when they arrive.
As long as the weather stays unsettled, with an Atlantic influence, the door's open for a storm.
Why do we name storms and what is the naming threshold?
We've been giving storms a name since 2015, and Storm Abigail was the first to show her hand.
Giving a storm a name makes it easier for people to recognise it, follow forecasts, and understand the warnings. It gives forecasters, emergency services, and the media a consistent way to refer to the same weather system.
There isn’t a fixed wind speed that automatically earns a storm a name, but the Met Office will look a its potential impact, typically disruption or damage serious enough to warrant an amber or red warning. Strong winds are the main consideration, but heavy rain and snow can also count.
The Met Office shares a naming scheme with Ireland’s Met Éireann and the Netherlands’ KNMI.
Any of the three can choose to name a storm if significant impacts are expected in their country, so a named storm won’t necessarily bring severe weather to every part of Britain. We've also used names given by other European forecasters in the past.
How do we think up the UK names?
The names come largely from suggestions submitted by the public, and they're announced each summer, then used in alphabetical order, with a fresh list each September. But you won’t find storms beginning with Q, U, X, Y or Z: those letters are skipped to stay consistent with the naming conventions used for Atlantic hurricanes.
What will the next named storm be called?
Chloe is next for the UK, whenever she arrives. We've already had Austen on October 23, and Boelo on October 24.
Dano, Evelyn, and Finn would then follow.