As the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, understanding the naming system for hurricanes is key. Hurricanes are named to help the media report on them and engage public interest, especially when warnings are issued. Here’s why those names matter.
The naming system involves a list of 21 names for the year, covering most letters of the alphabet except Q, U, X, Y, and Z. The scarcity of names beginning with these letters is the reason for their omission.
When a storm is officially named, it has reached tropical storm status with an organized center of circulation and winds of at least 39 mph. The list of names for hurricanes operates on a six-year rotation. If a storm is particularly devastating, its name is retired and replaced. Hurricanes Katrina, Irma, and Maria are such cases, never to be used again.
The last time the current list was used was in 2018. During that year, Hurricanes Florence and Michael caused significant impact, leading to the retirement of their names. They have been replaced by Francine and Milton, which will be introduced for the first time this season.
Notably, names beginning with the letter “I” have been retired most frequently, with 14 out of 96 retired names since 1954 starting with “I”. This year, forecasts predict as many as 25 named storms, raising the potential of exhausting the list. This has happened twice before, in 2005 and 2020.
Previously, the Greek alphabet was used when the names ran out. Now, there is a backup list that starts anew with the letter “A”.
The World Meteorological Organization maintains and updates the naming system, established in 1953. Initially, names were arbitrary, often linked to impacted locations. Women’s names were solely used until 1979, when men’s names were added to the list.
The hurricane naming system plays an essential role in tracking storms effectively and ensures clear communication when it comes to public safety and awareness.
