LONDON -- Until now, storms that hit the UK and Ireland were nameless, sometimes destructive, weather events, but from this winter the disruptive episodes will be anonymous no more.
The UK's Met Office and Ireland's Met Éireann are teaming up to find names for the storms that will hit the region and they're reaching out to the public for help.
Both meteorological services said that giving a single authoritative name to a storm could help raise awareness around severe weather and help people to be more prepared.
"We hope that naming storms in line with the official severe weather warnings here will do the same and ensure everyone can keep themselves, their property and businesses safe and protected at times of severe weather," Derrick Ryall, head of the public weather service at the Met Office, said in a statement about the pilot project.
The Met Office was leading the charge on Twitter and Facebook, asking people to suggest names for upcoming storms via the #nameourstorms hashtag. The suggested list will be used to pick the names, which will be alphabetical and will alternate between male and female. Around the world, tropical cyclones, including tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons, are already named.
Here are some of the suggestions that have already been made:
#nameourstorms The Boris - don't be fooled by sunshine, cold driving rain and dangerous wind is on the way— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) September 8, 2015
#nameourstorms Miley Cirrus, over low lying areas.— Ray (@magicraisin) September 8, 2015
@metoffice please name a storm Abigail. Coz, irony... #nameourstorms— danny chanda (@danny_oddie) September 8, 2015
#nameourstorms In A Teacup— Freya (@speelingmstake) September 8, 2015
Some looked close to home.
@metoffice #nameourstorms I would like a storm named after my son Kori. Why because he causes such a mess at home.— Stuart Cahoon (@StuartCahoon67) September 8, 2015
Storms are unpredictable, volatile and can course untold damage. I wonder how many people will #nameourstorms after their husband/wife?— John Morgan (@Morg007) September 8, 2015
Others just wanted to name one after themselves.
@metoffice #nameourstorms Sophie-Mae xo pic.twitter.com/RreZg4c6sJ— Sophie-Mae (@Sophieee_Maeee) September 8, 2015
#nameourstorms Aisling— aisling (@aisssling) September 8, 2015
@themetoffice #nameourstorms I would like to suggest Suzanne!— Suzanne Rhind (@WaylandSuzanne) September 8, 2015
A few referred to history.
Names of past kings and queens #nameourstorms "James II is battering parts of the northwest after sweeping across the midlands".— Charles Arthur (@charlesarthur) September 8, 2015
Others turned to cultural icons.
You knew tis was coming @metoffice ........... 'Madonna' #nameourstorms— Nathan Rao (@ExpressNathan) September 8, 2015
Blobby #nameourstorms— steve davies (@spartacus_mills) September 8, 2015
And some got a bit literal.
@metoffice #nameourstorms got to be Alex (after Alex the hurricane Higgins)— Lisa (@lisa12000___) September 8, 2015