If it feels like the UK has been battered by one storm after another this winter, that is because it has. The 2025/2026 storm season has been one of the most active in recent memory, bringing record-breaking winds, severe flooding, and significant coastal erosion across the country.
Here is a look at what has happened so far, why the storms keep coming, and what the rest of the season might hold.
The Named Storms So Far
The Met Office, Met Eireann, and KNMI (Netherlands) jointly name storms that are expected to cause significant impacts. The 2025/2026 season started on 1 September 2025, and the storms have come thick and fast.
| Storm | Date | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Amy | 3-4 October 2025 | First of the season, strong winds across western UK |
| Bram | 9-10 December 2025 | Heavy rain and wind across northern England and Scotland |
| Goretti | 6-8 January 2026 | 123 mph gusts in Cornwall, rare red warning, widespread snow |
| Chandra | 26-27 January 2026 | Record rainfall in Somerset, worst flooding in parts of Devon for over two decades |
Four named storms before February is notable. Some seasons produce fewer named storms across the entire winter.
Storm Goretti: The Season's Biggest Hit
Storm Goretti arrived on 6 January 2026 and was named by Meteo-France. It proved to be a multi-hazard event bringing wind, rain, and snow in quick succession.
Wind: Gusts of 123 mph were recorded in Cornwall, the strongest since 1991. A rare red "danger to life" warning was issued by the Met Office, something that happens only a handful of times per decade.
Snow: As cold air followed behind the storm, significant snowfall affected parts of Scotland, northern England, and even lower-lying areas further south. The temperature difference of just 0.5 degrees Celsius determined whether areas received rain or heavy snow, catching many off guard.
Impact: Tens of thousands of homes lost power, roads were blocked, and the emergency services dealt with hundreds of incidents across the country.
Storm Chandra: Record-Breaking Rain
Just three weeks after Goretti, Storm Chandra struck on 26 January 2026. While Goretti was primarily a wind event, Chandra was all about rain.
Rainfall records broken: Parts of Somerset received 50mm of intense rainfall in 24 hours, setting new records. The River Otter at Ottery St Mary in Devon exceeded its highest ever recorded level, with the gauge at Fenny Bridges peaking at approximately 2.83 metres, breaking the previous record of 2.81 metres from December 2000.
Flooding: Widespread river, surface water, and infrastructure flooding affected England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The South West of England was hardest hit, with some communities experiencing what officials described as the worst flooding in more than a decade.
Political response: The flooding was serious enough to prompt a parliamentary debate on 11 February 2026, with MPs discussing the response and longer-term flood defence investment.
Coastal Erosion: The Hidden Damage
The repeated battering has taken a heavy toll on the UK coastline. In Swanage, Dorset, the lower High Street was closed on safety grounds by the coastguard as huge waves threw sand, seaweed, and rocks across the road. This happened during Storm Goretti, then again during Storm Chandra.
Coastal erosion is a slower-moving consequence of storm seasons, but it is cumulative. Each storm removes material that has taken years to build up, and consecutive storms give the coastline no time to recover between events. Stretches of coast in Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, and Dorset are all experiencing accelerated erosion this winter.
Why This Season Has Been So Active
The Jet Stream
The jet stream is the ribbon of fast-moving air high in the atmosphere that steers weather systems across the Atlantic toward the UK. This winter, it has been running a persistent track directly across or just south of the British Isles, funnelling one low-pressure system after another straight at us.
When the jet stream sits further north, the UK gets settled, drier weather. When it sits over us, as it has done repeatedly this winter, we get exactly what we have been experiencing: rain, wind, and more rain.
The Atlantic Conveyor
The North Atlantic has been particularly active this season. Warm sea surface temperatures provide more energy for developing storms, and the temperature contrast between cold Arctic air and milder Atlantic air creates the conditions for intense low-pressure systems to deepen rapidly.
This process, known as explosive cyclogenesis or "weather bomb" formation, is what produced Storm Goretti's exceptional wind speeds. The storm deepened so quickly that forecasters had limited time to escalate warnings.
Climate Change
While individual storms cannot be directly attributed to climate change, the broader pattern is consistent with what climate scientists have projected:
- Warmer seas provide more energy for storm development
- Warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, producing heavier rainfall
- Rising sea levels amplify coastal flooding and erosion
- Shifting jet stream patterns may be becoming more extreme
The Met Office's analysis of UK rainfall trends shows a clear increase in the intensity of heavy rainfall events over recent decades, even as total annual rainfall has remained relatively stable. Storms are not necessarily more frequent, but the rain they deliver is heavier.
What to Expect for the Rest of the Season
The storm naming season runs through to the end of August 2026, though the most active period is typically October to March.
Short-term outlook: February is expected to continue the unsettled pattern, with further spells of rain, wind, and hill snow. Atlantic low-pressure systems remain the dominant feature. There may be some drier interludes between systems, but a sustained shift to settled weather is not currently expected.
Spring transition: March and April typically see a gradual reduction in storm intensity as the jet stream begins to weaken and shift northward. However, spring storms can still be significant, particularly in exposed coastal and upland areas.
The naming list continues: After Chandra, the next storms to be named would follow alphabetically through the 2025/2026 list. With four storms named before February, this season is on track to be one of the more active in the naming system's history.
How to Stay Prepared
Before a Storm
- Check the Met Office warnings regularly, particularly the 5-day forecast
- Secure loose garden furniture, bins, and anything that could become a projectile
- Charge phones and portable batteries in case of power cuts
- Know your local flood risk and have a plan if you live in a flood-prone area
- Stock basic supplies (torch, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food)
During a Storm
- Stay indoors if possible, particularly during red and amber warnings
- Avoid driving through floodwater. It takes just 30cm of flowing water to move a car
- Stay away from the coast. Storm surges and wave overtopping are unpredictable and dangerous
- Report flooding to your local council or the Environment Agency flood line (0345 988 1188)
After a Storm
- Check your property for damage, particularly the roof and guttering
- Photograph any damage for insurance purposes before making repairs
- Be cautious around fallen trees and damaged structures
- Check on neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable people
Frequently Asked Questions
How many named storms does the UK usually get per season?
The average is around five to seven named storms per season, though this varies significantly. Some seasons produce only two or three, while others have exceeded ten. With four named storms before February, the 2025/2026 season is running above average.
What is the difference between yellow, amber, and red weather warnings?
Yellow warnings mean "be aware" and suggest possible disruption. Amber warnings mean "be prepared" for significant impacts. Red warnings mean "take action" and indicate a serious threat to life. Red warnings are rare and should always be taken extremely seriously.
Why do storms seem worse than they used to be?
There are several factors. Climate change is increasing the intensity of rainfall and potentially affecting storm tracks. Urbanisation and development on floodplains means more property is exposed to flood risk. And better monitoring and media coverage means we are more aware of storm impacts than in previous decades. The reality is likely a combination of genuinely more intense events and greater awareness.
Does the UK get more storms than other countries?
The UK's position in the North Atlantic, at the meeting point of polar and tropical air masses, makes it one of the stormiest places in Europe. Western Scotland, in particular, experiences some of the highest wind speeds anywhere on the continent. However, the UK's storms are generally less intense than tropical hurricanes or typhoons.
When does storm season end?
The official naming season runs from September to August, but the most active period for windstorms is October to March. By April, the jet stream typically weakens and shifts northward, reducing the frequency of major storms. However, spring and even summer storms can still cause disruption.