Brits might have to prepare to be battered by a storm called Dave this winter

Ever wondered what it would be like to get blown by Dave in the middle of the street? You might be about to find out this winter.

Dave is one of the first named storms of this winter, meteorologists revealed, after the public submitted more than 50,000 suggestions.

The UK’s Met Office, in partnership with Ireland’s Met Éireann and the Dutch national weather forecasting service KNMI, has announced the list of this year’s storm names.

Many people put forward suggestions in tribute to loved ones and even favourite pets, even ideas in honour of husbands who snore louder than storms or little girls who leave chaos in their wakes.

The first name in this year’s list, Amy, was the most popular female name submitted to the Met Office, while Dave was described as ‘my beloved husband who can snore three times louder than any storm’.

But the Met Office said the purpose of naming storms was a serious one – to help people take notice, prepare and stay safe in severe weather.

The Met Office and partners have been naming storms since 2015, with the list running from early September to the following August, to coincide with the start of autumn, when the likelihood of low-pressure systems and the potential for storms severe enough to be named increases.

In the last year, six storms were named, reaching the letter F with Storm Floris on August 1.

Under the naming conventions used for storms in the North Atlantic, the list is arranged alphabetically, omitting Q, U, X, Y, and Z. Names are drawn from submissions by the public in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

The choice of Stevie for S was inspired by a little girl named after Stevie Nicks for her song Dreams, which includes the line: ‘Thunder only happens when it’s raining’.

Ruby was the most popular name beginning with R, with one family nominating it in honour of a cherished grandmother.

Pets featured in the nominations, with one cat, Oscar, described as a ‘good boy, but crazy when he gets the zoomies’.

The Met Office said a number of factors were considered for including a name on the list, including how difficult it is to produce, if it has different meanings across different countries, is connected to a public figure or could be controversial in any way.

Storms are given a name when they are deemed to have the potential to cause medium or high impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands, with wind the primary focus, although additional issues from rain or snow will also be looked at.

Rebekah Hicks, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘When a storm has a name, it becomes easier for the media and public to talk about it, share information, and prepare.’

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said climate change means weather is becoming ‘more extreme’.

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