Met Office ridiculed for giving storm Welsh name translating as 'sunshine'

Welsh speakers were left bemused by a name in this winter's storm list
Storm Francis battered the UK in August
Getty Images
Ewan Somerville2 September 2020

The Met Office has been ridiculed over one of its storm names for the next year that translates as “sunshine”.

Storm Heulwen is listed among 21 storm names for 2020-21, unveiled by forecasters this week to “reflect the diversity” of the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands weather services.

But soon after the names were announced, Welsh speakers flooded social media to poke fun and disbelief at the eighth choice.

Heulwen is a female name that, like many Welsh names, carries a meaning - translating as “sun blessed” or “sunshine”.

BBC weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans tweeted: “New storm names announced today dahlings. FYI- Heulwen is 'sunshine' in Welsh. Who's looking forward to Storm Sunshine?!”

Storm Ellen wreaked havoc on parts of the UK in August
Getty Images

Dr Eilir Hughes, a Welsh GP, jibed: “Oh the irony when storm Heulwen hits us. What does ‘Heulwen’ mean?”

“Sunshine mate. It means sunshine.”

Welsh newsreader Peter Gilbrand added: “The @metoffice has just announced there'll be a storm 'HEULWEN' in 2020/2021. I'm not sure if they got the memo that it translates from Welsh as sunshine…”

Welsh social media expert Owen Williams disapprovingly remarked: “Heulwen = Sunshine. Let’s just imagine that rather than Saidhbhin, the S name was “Sunny” instead.

“You can’t. Because “Storm Sunny” would never, ever happen. That’s how mad Heulwen sounds, feels and looks in Welsh.”

The storm names were announced to coincide with the official start of British autumn on Monday, and also feature Tobias, Darcy, Oscar and Klaas. The Met Office said it was "aware of the meaning and origin of all names" on the list.

It comes after the storms Ellen and Francis battered the UK with gale-force winds and torrential downpours in August.

The first storm of the winter will be named Aiden, and will run through most of the alphabet with Bella and Christoph to follow.

The names reflect forecasting services in the UK, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Netherlands KNMI service which joined the west European forecast group last year.

Other European countries to name impactful storms include France, Spain and Portugal in south-west Europe and Sweden, Norway and Denmark in northern Europe.

A file photo of lightning, which struck the UK during two heavy storms in August 
Unsplash

Will Lang, of the Met Office, said: “We are now entering our sixth year of the Name our Storms campaign and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues in Ireland and the Netherlands once again, continuing to raise awareness of the potential impacts of severe weather in order to keep people across our nations safe.

“The impacts from Storm Ciara and Dennis earlier this year are still fresh in many people's minds and although it’s too early to anticipate what weather this autumn and winter will bring, we are prepared with a new list of names to help raise awareness of severe weather before it hits.”

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