Several named storms arrive over the UK since early January 2026

Several named storms have arrived over the UK since early January 2026, according to Dorset Local Resilience Forum, which reports the Met Office is encouraging people around the UK to consider whether they are weather ready¹.

The Dorset Local Resilience Forum page, published as part of its late winter 2025/2026 weather readiness material, does not name the individual storms, give their dates, or set out wind speeds, rainfall totals or any casualty or damage figures. None of these details has been reported in the page¹.

The page says that emergency services, local councils, the Environment Agency and other responders are working together to keep the public informed of flooding risks across the whole county¹. It adds that BCP Council and Dorset Council would consider whether their Severe Weather Protocols should be activated, based on information from the Met Office¹.

The Met Office's weather ready guidance, as described by the forum, covers preparing for unexpected flooding, driving in heavy rain and what to do in a power cut¹. The forum also says that being weather ready is about staying warm and considering whether there are older or vulnerable people in the community who might be supported¹.

Why it matters for households

The notice covers the whole of the UK, with the local detail drawn from Dorset. For households, the practical subjects flagged are flooding that arrives unexpectedly, driving in heavy rain and power cuts, all of which the Met Office's weather ready pages address¹. The forum also frames readiness in terms of keeping warm and looking out for older or vulnerable people nearby¹. In Dorset, the two councils named would decide whether to activate their severe weather protocols on the basis of Met Office information, which means local cold weather provision for people sleeping rough or otherwise at risk could change as conditions develop¹. The Met Office's own wording, as reported, is that people should consider whether they are weather ready¹.

What happens next

No further dates are given. The page states only that BCP Council and Dorset Council would consider activating their Severe Weather Protocols based on Met Office information, and that responders across the county are working together to keep the public informed of flooding risks¹. The Met Office's named storm naming arrangements explain how storms are identified, and the storms and snow hub covers preparation for winter conditions.