Storm Lilian affected the UK on 22 to 23 August 2024, the Met Office reports, making it the twelfth and final named storm of the 2023/24 season. The season ran from Storm Agnes on 27 September 2023 to Storm Lilian, and saw 12 named storms, which the Met Office says is the greatest number since the first season in 20151.
The Met Office's season summary sets out the named storms and their dates of impact on the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands1:
| Storm | Named | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes | 25 September 2023 | 27 to 28 September 2023 |
| Babet | 16 October 2023 | 18 to 21 October 2023 |
| Ciarán | 29 October 2023 | 1 to 2 November 2023 |
| Debi | 12 November 2023 | 13 November 2023 |
| Elin | 9 December 2023 | 9 December 2023 |
| Fergus | 9 December 2023 | 10 December 2023 |
| Gerrit | 26 December 2023 | 27 to 28 December 2023 |
| Henk | 2 January 2024 | 2 January 2024 |
| Isha | 19 January 2024 | 21 to 22 January 2024 |
| Jocelyn | 22 January 2024 | 23 to 24 January 2024 |
| Kathleen | 4 April 2024 | 6 to 7 April 2024 |
| Lilian | 22 August 2024 | 22 to 23 August 2024 |
The Met Office records that Storm Babet in October 2023 brought very strong winds, gusting at over 58mph across northeast England and much of Scotland, but that the more significant impacts came from rainfall. Eastern Scotland saw exceptional rainfall, with 150 to 200mm falling in the wettest areas and two red warnings for rain issued1.
Storms Isha and Jocelyn, the ninth and tenth named storms of the season, arrived in quick succession in late January 2024. The Met Office says both were influenced by a powerful jet stream, intensified by a large temperature contrast across North America caused by a pool of cold air over Canada and the United States sinking south. Storm Isha brought widespread strong winds, particularly across the northern half of the UK, on 21 to 22 January 2024, where winds gusted at 69 to 81mph, including a gust of 99mph in Northumberland1.
The Met Office lists nine names that were not used during the season: Minnie, Nicholas, Olga, Piet, Regina, Stuart, Tamiko, Vincent and Walid1.
Why it matters for households
The season's record runs from late September 2023 to late August 2024, so the named storms fell across autumn, winter, early spring and summer rather than being confined to the winter months. The Met Office account shows the range of hazards involved: wind in Babet and Isha, and exceptional rainfall in eastern Scotland during Babet, where two red warnings for rain were issued. Red is the most severe level of Met Office warning. Households in eastern Scotland and the northern half of the UK were among those affected by the events described. The Met Office's storms and snow hub covers storm warnings and related practical guidance.
What happens next
The Met Office has not reported in this summary when the 2024/25 storm season begins or which names will be used.
Sources (1)
- UK storm season 2023/24 - Met Office, weather.metoffice.gov.uk
