It’s that time of year once again – the Met Office has officially revealed the list of storm names for 2022/23.
This is the eighth year in a row that storms have been named.
The Met Office explains that storms are given a name to help raise awareness, help provide “consistent and authoritative messaging”, and inform the public of the risks of upcoming adverse weather conditions – and this year, have been named in partnership with the Met Éireann from Ireland and KNMI from The Netherlands.
They will be named when a system is forecast to cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands, the Met Office adds.
Impacts from rain and snow will also be considered in the naming process.
This season’s storm names are Antoni, Betty, Cillian, Daisy, Elliot, Fleur, Glen, Hendrika, Ide, Johanna, Khalid, Loes, Mark, Nelly, Owain, Priya, Ruadhan, Sam, Tobias, Val, and Wouter.
Here is the new list of storm names for 2022-23 with @MetEireann and @KNMI
Do you know someone whose name is on the list?
Antoni Betty Cillian Daisy Elliot Fleur Glen Hendrika Íde Johanna Khalid Loes Mark Nelly Owain Priya Ruadhán Sam Tobias Val Wouter#NameOurStorms
The Met Office’s names in the list have come from submissions from the public, with Daisy, Glen, Khalid and Owain some of those submitted, while Betty came out on top as the winner of a public vote on Met Office Twitter – with over 12,000 votes cast to select the name for the letter B.
KNMI’s selected names – including Antoni, Hendrika, Johanna and Loes – are named after influential Dutch scientists.
Met Éireann’s submissions include Cillian, Fleur, Íde, and Nelly.
Storm names 2022/23 as revealed by the Met Office / Credit: Met Office
“We know from seven years of doing this that naming storms works,” explained Will Lang, Head of Situational Awareness at the Met Office – who leads responses in times of severe weather.
“Last year, Storms Arwen and Eunice brought some severe impacts to the UK.
“We know that naming storms helps to raise awareness and give the public the information they need to stay safe in times of severe weather, and recent impactful storms demonstrated our ongoing need to communicate severe weather in a clear way to help the public protect themselves.
“Naming storms is just one way that we know helps to raise awareness of severe weather and provides clarity for the public when they need it most.”
Alejandro Garnacho set for Premier League switch as Manchester United shuffle attacking lineup
Danny Jones
Young Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho looks set to make a switch to another Premier League team as he has reportedly already reached an agreement regarding personal terms with his next club: Chelsea.
The promising winger, who graduated from Man United’s academy setup and has quickly made an impact even in just a short time in the first team, is now believed to be London-bound very soon, with Chelsea now “close” to completing a deal for the 21-year-old.
While there are no doubts surrounding his talent and potential, it is said the rift between him and the United head coach comes down to personality, character and conduct, with the latter not shying away from sharing grievances publicly.
🚨 Chelsea have stepped up talks with Manchester United over deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho. Clubs in touch on topic for some time & now advancing amid Benjamin Sesko joining #MUFC. 21yo winger wants #CFC or nothing + expects move to happen @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/vdc1dtnA0p
According to The Athletic, it now looks as though after having agitated for a move, Garnacho has got his wish and is set for the capital, in a move which could see him become the 51st senior player to sign for the Blues under Todd Boehly’s ownership.
It is, quite frankly, a staggering number – especially given the fact that he only purchased the club back in May of 2022.
Most notably in Garnacho‘s case, too, it also raises questions around where in the Chelsea squad he will fit and how much regular first-team football (a guaranteed starting spot rumoured to be a flashpoint with Amorim) he will be able to enjoy should the deal go ahead.
For instance, besides the plethora of other attacking players at Enzo Maresca’s disposal, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says that the west Londoners are also pursuing PSG’s Xavi Simons.
Nevertheless, the Italian journalist claims that “every detail of personal terms with Chelsea” has now been agreed, with the Argentine prospect now fully set on a move to Stamford Bridge.
You can see what other Manchester United transfer updates he gave in his latest video.
Romano goes on to state that the deal is effectively done as far as the player side of things is concerned, adding that Garnacho is now only interested in Chelsea since and has been since July.
Although negotiations are yet to begin with Man United, it looks likely that they will push to get a transfer approved quickly as they look to cover the costs of the other business, having already brought in a number of players.
Chester Zoo confirms sex of viral snow leopard cub after its first vet health check
Emily Sergeant
It’s the news we’ve all been for… Chester Zoo has confirmed the sex of its viral snow leopard cub after its first vet health check.
In case you need bringing up to speed, the new baby arrived to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin, who are both three-years-old, earlier this summer on 10 June, and since then, keepers at Chester Zoo said mum and cub had mostly spent their time quietly tucked away in a cosy den, away from the eyes of the onlooking public.
But just last week, it was time for the little one to see what the outside world is all about, and the zoo’s cameras captured it venturing outside for the very first time.
Back then though, we were still awaiting confirmation of the cub’s sex.
Now, Chester Zoo has confirmed that the adorable ball of fluff was taken to the zoo’s specialist vets and carnivore keepers this week to be examined, weighed, vaccinated, and most importantly, ‘sexed’ – and finally, it has been revealed as a female.
Keepers say the playful new arrival is now eight weeks old and growing in strength and confidence every day, with mum Nubra watching over closely.
“At eight weeks old, the cub has undergone the first of two all-important health checks,” explained Mark Brayshaw, who is the Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo.
Chester Zoo has confirmed the sex of its viral snow leopard cub after its first vet health check / Credit: Chester Zoo
“These quick examinations by the zoo’s vets are really important for us to make sure the cub is healthy and in good physical condition.
“We recorded the cub’s weight, checked its heartbeat, eyes, and teeth before swiftly returning the cub to mum Nubra, [and] we’re very happy to report that the cub was given a clean bill of health and we can finally reveal that it is indeed a female.
“Now comes one of the toughest tasks of all – choosing a name worthy of such a special arrival.”
Snow leopards are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it’s believed there are as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild.
Stay tuned to find out the little one’s name, expected to be revealed very soon.
In fact, you might as well throw in your own suggestion – we’ve already offered ours…
How about Medo? 🥹
It means ‘little flower’ in Tibetan, the same as her mother’s tongue. 🌼
Emily Sergeant -
1st September 2022 
