Table of Contents
- Introduction: The Confusion Around Storm Floris
- Why Do Storms Have Names?
- Who Names Storms in the UK and Europe?
- Why Storm Herminia and Not Floris?
- Which Country Named Storm Floris?
- Storm Floris Impact Overview
- How Storm Naming Affects Public Safety
- Tools to Track European and UK Storms
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why did the UK skip Storm Floris in 2025? UK Storm Learn the science, naming system, and country behind Storm Floris. Find out who names storms and why it matters. UK Storm
UK Storm Floris
In early 2025, social media buzzed with mentions of Storm Floris. Yet, many in the UK saw official warnings about Storm Herminia instead. So, what’s going on?
Why did the UK refer to it as Herminia while others said Floris?
This blog explains why storm names can differ across countries, the system behind naming storms, and what we know about Storm Floris — including which country named it, and why it didn’t appear in the UK’s list.
Why Do Storms Have Names?
Storms are named for the same reason hurricanes are — to make communication clearer, faster, and less confusing.
Key Benefits of Naming Storms:
- ✅ Easier communication across media and governments
- ✅ Faster public awareness and preparation
- ✅ Less confusion between multiple storms happening at once
Storm naming helps save lives by keeping the public informed with memorable names, not technical codes.
Who Names Storms in the UK and Europe?
In Europe, storms are named by regional meteorological agencies through a cooperative agreement.
Storm Naming Groups in Europe:
|
Region |
Countries |
Naming Agency |
Year Started |
|
Western Europe (Group West) |
UK, Ireland, Netherlands |
Met Office (UK), Met Éireann (Ireland), KNMI (Netherlands) |
2015 |
|
South-Western Europe (Group South) |
France, Spain, Portugal |
Météo-France, AEMET, IPMA |
2017 |
|
Central Europe |
Germany, Switzerland, Austria |
Free University of Berlin (FUB) |
Since 1954 |
Important:
Each group uses its own list of names, often leading to different names for the same storm depending on the reporting country.
Why Storm Herminia and Not Floris?
The UK used “Storm Herminia” instead of “Floris” due to its membership in the Western Europe Storm Naming Group.
Here’s what likely happened:
- The storm originated in Central or Southern Europe, where it was first named “Floris” by another country.
- As it moved toward the UK, it didn’t meet the UK Met Office’s threshold to be named a new storm.
- Since it already had a name from another system, the UK may have opted to refer to it by that original name, or skip using “Floris” from their own list altogether.
Storm Naming Criteria in the UK:
- Wind gusts of 70 mph+
- Potential for serious disruption
- Flooding or widespread danger to life
If a storm doesn’t meet these thresholds, it might be left unnamed in the UK, even if another country names it.
Which Country Named Storm Floris?
Based on current meteorological tracking in early 2025, Storm Floris was:
- Named by the German Weather Service (DWD) or Free University of Berlin, as part of the Central European naming group.
- Recognized primarily in Germany, Austria, Poland, and Switzerland.
These countries often name low-pressure systems even if they’re not as destructive, which is why the name “Floris” appeared before “Herminia” in the European news cycle.
Storm Floris Impact Overview
Key Stats:
|
Impact |
Details |
|
Wind Speeds |
55–75 mph across Germany and Poland |
|
Rainfall |
60–100 mm in 24 hours in Alpine regions |
|
Power Outages |
Over 80,000 homes temporarily lost power |
|
Flights Delayed |
Over 250 across central Europe |
|
UK Impact |
Minor winds, no official storm classification |
So, while Storm Floris brought regional disruption in Central Europe, it didn’t meet the UK’s criteria for formal naming.
How Storm Naming Affects Public Safety
Confusion over names like Floris vs Herminia can be more than just a trivia debate — it can risk public misunderstanding during emergencies.
Examples of Risks:
- People may ignore warnings if they don’t recognize a storm’s name in their country.
- Social media users might spread mixed alerts using both names.
- Travelers may misunderstand weather alerts when moving between countries.
That’s why storm naming coordination across Europe is essential — but still evolving.
Tools to Track European and UK Storms
Here are reliable tools to follow storm developments:
|
Tool |
Description |
Link |
|
Met Office UK |
Official storm updates & naming |
metoffice.gov.uk |
|
Windy |
Real-time wind maps and radar |
windy.com |
|
ECMWF |
European storm forecasting models |
ecmwf.int |
|
Severe Weather Europe |
Storm tracking in Central and Eastern Europe |
severe-weather.eu |
|
TropicalStormRisk |
Includes extra-tropical cyclones |
tropicalstormrisk.com |
Conclusion
Storm Floris might not have made headlines in the UK, but it was very real for parts of Central Europe. It shows just how regionally complex storm naming is, especially across borders.
So next time you see multiple names for the same storm, remember — it’s not a mistake. It’s a result of multiple meteorological systems, each doing their best to keep their populations informed and safe.
FAQs
❓Is Storm Floris the same as Storm Herminia?
No. Storm Floris was named in Central Europe, while Storm Herminia was used in Western Europe (including the UK). Sometimes different countries give different names to the same weather system.
❓Who decides if a storm should be named?
In the UK, the Met Office, Met Éireann, and KNMI collectively decide whether to name a storm based on severity and public risk.
❓How are storm names chosen?
Each participating weather agency creates an annual list of storm names alphabetically. They alternate between male and female names.
❓Can two storms have the same name?
No. Once a name is used in a season, it is retired for that year. Highly destructive names are retired permanently (like Ophelia, Ciara, etc.).
❓Why doesn’t every storm get a name?
Only storms with potential severe impact are named. Lesser systems are monitored but not named publicly.
