Two storms named on the same day for the first time

The Met Office named storms Dudley and Eunice on 14 February 2022, the first time that two storms have been named at once since the storm naming scheme began in 2015¹. Dudley was forecast to affect the UK and Ireland on 16 and 17 February, and Eunice on 18 February¹.

The 2021/22 season saw six storms named over the year¹. Three of them, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, were named in the one week in February 2022, with two red weather warnings and some of the highest wind speeds recorded in over 30 years, according to the Met Office¹. During Eunice, winds gusted at over 81mph in exposed coastal locations and a gust of 122mph was recorded at Needles Old Battery on the Isle of Wight, setting a new England gust speed record; winds gusted widely at over 69mph across southern England¹. Franklin was named on 20 February and affected the UK and Ireland on 20 and 21 February¹.

The season had opened with Storm Arwen, named on 25 November 2021 and affecting the UK and Ireland on 26 and 27 November¹. A rare red warning for wind for coastal areas on the east coast of Scotland and the northeast of England was issued for Arwen, with the highest gust recorded at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland at 98mph¹. Barra followed, named on 5 December 2021 and affecting the UK and Ireland on 7 and 8 December, then Malik, named by Denmark's meteorological institute on 28 January 2022 and affecting the UK and Ireland on 29 January, and Corrie, named on 29 January and affecting the UK and Ireland on 30 and 31 January¹.

The Met Office lists 15 names that went unused during the season: Gladys, Herman, Imani, Jack, Kim, Logan, Méabh, Nasim, Olwen, Pól, Ruby, Seán, Tineke, Vergil and Willemien¹.

Why it matters for households

A named storm is the point at which the Met Office attaches a name to a system it expects to affect the UK or Ireland, so households in the path of Dudley and Eunice had notice of several days: Dudley was named on 14 February for impact on 16 and 17 February, and Eunice on the same day for 18 February¹. The season's record shows the range of conditions involved. Arwen brought a rare red warning for wind to coastal areas of eastern Scotland and northeast England, and Eunice produced the highest gust recorded in England at 122mph alongside widespread gusts of over 69mph across southern England¹. The Met Office's guide to how storms are named sets out how the scheme works, and its household guide to storms, snow and ice covers preparation for wind and winter weather.

What happens next

The Met Office's summary records the season as closed, with six storms named and the remaining 15 names on the 2021/22 list unused¹. No further dates for the 2021/22 season are given in the summary.