This is a cumulative list of previously used tropical cyclone (tropical storm and hurricane) names that have been permanently removed from reuse in the North Atlantic basin. As of 2024, 96 storm names have been retired.[1]
The naming of North Atlantic tropical cyclones is currently under the oversight of the Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This group maintains six alphabetic lists of twenty-one names, with one list used each year. This normally results in each name being reused every six years. However, in the case of a particularly deadly or damaging storm, that storm's name is retired, and a replacement starting with the same letter is selected to take its place. The decision on whether to remove a name in a given season is made at the annual session of the WMO Hurricane Committee in the spring of the following year.
The practice of retiring storm names was begun by the United States Weather Bureau in 1955, after major hurricanes Carol, Edna, and Hazel struck the Northeastern United States during the previous year. Initially, their names were retired for 10 years, after which time they could be reintroduced; however, in 1969, the policy was changed to have the names retired permanently. In 1977, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) transferred control of the naming lists to the Hurricane Committee.
Since the formal start of naming during the 1947 Atlantic hurricane season, an average of one Atlantic storm name has been retired each year. However, many seasons (most recently 2023) did not have any names retired. The record for number of storm names retired from a single season is five, held by the 2005 season. The most names retired for a decade was 24 in the 2000s, followed by the 16 retirements resulting from hurricanes in the 2010s. The deadliest storm to have its name retired was Hurricane Mitch, which caused over 10,000 fatalities when it struck Central America in October 1998. The costliest storms were hurricanes Katrina in August 2005 and Harvey in August 2017; each storm struck the U.S. Gulf Coast, causing $125 billion in damage, much of it from flooding.[nb 1] The most recent North Atlantic names to be retired were Fiona and Ian following the 2022 season.
By 1947, tropical cyclones developing in the North Atlantic Ocean were named by the United States Army Air Forces in private communications between weather centers and aircraft using the phonetic alphabet.[2][3] This practice continued until September 1950, when the names started to be used publicly after three hurricanes (Baker, Dog, Easy) had occurred simultaneously and caused confusion within the media and the public.[2] Public use of the phonetic alphabet continued until the 1953 Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference, where the decision was made to start using a new list of female names during that season as a second phonetic alphabet had been developed.[2][4][5] During the active but mild 1953 Atlantic hurricane season, the names were readily used in the press with few objections recorded; as a result, the same names were reused during the next year with only one change: Gilda for Gail. Over the next six years, a new list of names was developed ahead of each season; in 1960, forecasters developed four alphabetical sets and repeated them every four years.[6] These new sets followed the example of the typhoon names and excluded names beginning with the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z, and keeping them to female names only.[6]
In 1955, it was decided to start retiring the names of significant tropical cyclones for 10 years, after which they might be reintroduced, with the names Carol and Edna reintroduced ahead of the 1965 and 1968 hurricane seasons, respectively.[2] At the 1969 Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference, the naming lists were revised after it was decided that the names Carol, Edna, Hazel, and Inez would be permanently retired because of their importance to the research community.[2][7] It was also decided that the name of any significant hurricane in the future would be permanently retired.[2][7] Ahead of the 1971 Atlantic hurricane season, 10 lists of hurricane names were inaugurated, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 1977, it was decided that the World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee (WMO) would control the names used, who subsequently decided that six lists of names would be used in the Atlantic Ocean from 1979 onwards, with male names included.[2] Since 1979, the same six lists have been used by the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) to name systems, with names of significant tropical cyclones retired from the lists permanently and replaced with new names as required at the following year's hurricane committee meeting.[2]
At present, the name of any tropical cyclone may be retired or withdrawn from the list of names at the request of a member state, if it acquires notoriety for various reasons, including the number of deaths, amount of damages, or other impacts.[8] The committee subsequently discuss the proposal and either through building consensus or a majority vote decides if the name should be retired or withdrawn. In March 2017, members of the British Caribbean Territories proposed that a third retirement criterion be added: the tropical cyclone must have sustained winds of at least 96mph (154km/h). This came in light of the retirement of Tropical Storm Erika in 2015, which caused catastrophic flooding and mudslides in Dominica without producing sustained tropical storm-force winds on the island. No action has been taken on this proposal yet.[9]
Formerly, if a season's primary list of names were fully used, subsequent storms would be assigned names based on the letters of the Greek alphabet.[10] According to the WMO's initial policy established in 2006, the Greek letter named storms could never be retired "lest an irreplaceable chunk be taken out of the alphabet." Therefore, devastating 2020 hurricanes Eta and Iota would have been retired as "Eta 2020" and "Iota 2020" respectively, but the letter names themselves would remain available for use whenever Greek alphabet letter names were needed again in subsequent years.[11] However, this plan was never implemented, as the names Eta and Iota were both formally retired without the year descriptor by the WMO in 2021. The organization also abandoned the Greek alphabet auxiliary list in favor of a new auxiliary naming list.[12][13]
Between 1954 and 1959, eight names were deemed significant enough to be retired for 10 years due to their impact before being permanently retired after 1969. There were no names retired for the 1956, 1958, and 1959 seasons.[8][14][15] Collectively, these storms resulted in at least 2947 fatalities and over $2.04billion in damage. The deadliest hurricane was Hurricane Hazel, which killed at least 1,191 people, while the costliest was Hurricane Diane, which caused US$831million in damage.
Hurricane Betsy was the first hurricane to have damages exceeding US$1billion.
In 1960, four rotating lists of names were developed to avoid creating new lists each year, while the practice of retiring any particularly damaging storm names for 10years continued, with 11 names deemed significant enough to be retired during the decade.[2][27] At the 1969 Hurricane Warning Conference, the National Hurricane Center requested that Carol, Edna, Hazel, and Inez be permanently retired due to their importance to the research community.[2][28] This request was subsequently accepted and led to today's practice of retiring names of significant tropical cyclones permanently.[2][7] There were no names retired for the 1962 and 1968 seasons.[nb 2] Collectively, the 11 systems were responsible for at least 9841 fatalities and in excess of $6.13billion in damage.
Starting in 1979, the WMO began assigning both male and female names to tropical cyclones.[2] This decade featured hurricanes David and Frederic, the first male Atlantic hurricane names to be retired. During this decade, 9 storms were deemed significant enough to have their names retired. Together these 9 systems caused at least $9.41billion in damage, while at least 10527 people lost their lives. No names were retired for the 1971, 1973, and 1976 seasons.
After control of the naming of hurricanes was turned over to the WMO's Hurricane Committee during the mid-1970s, the 1980s marked the least prolific decade regarding the number of retired storms, with 7 names warranting removal. Between them the 7 systems caused over $23.1billion in damage while over 891 people lost their lives. Hurricane Gilbert was the most intense tropical cyclone during the decade by pressure, with a minimum value of 888hPa (26.22inHg). This was the lowest recorded pressure in a North Atlantic hurricane until Hurricane Wilma surpassed it in 2005.[50] In addition, Hurricane Allen was the most intense tropical cyclone during the decade by wind speed, with maximum 1–minute sustained winds of 190mph (305km/h). This remains the highest sustained wind speed of any Atlantic hurricane on record.[51] There were no names retired for 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1987 seasons, which was the most of any decade since the introduction of the practice of retiring hurricane names.
During the 1990s, the Atlantic Ocean moved into its active era, which led to more tropical cyclones forming during the hurricane seasons. The decade featured Hurricane Andrew, which at the time was the costliest hurricane on record, and also Hurricane Mitch, which is considered to be the deadliest tropical cyclone to have its name retired, killing over 11,000 people in Central America. A total of 15 names were retired in this decade, seven during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Cumulatively, the 15 systems caused over $68billion in damage while over 20470 people lost their lives. No names were retired for the 1993, 1994, and 1997 seasons.
Radar loop of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2005.
After the Atlantic basin had moved into the warm phase of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation during the mid-1990s, the 2000s marked the most prolific decade in terms of the number of retired storms, with 24 names warranting removal.[nb 2] The decade featured one of the costliest tropical cyclones on record, Hurricane Katrina, which inflicted roughly US$125billion in damage across the Gulf Coast of the United States.[49] Katrina was also the deadliest hurricane to strike the United States since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.[23] After stalling over and flooding southeastern Texas, and causing approximately US$9billion in damage, Tropical Storm Allison became the first tropical storm in this basin to have its name retired, while subtropical storms started to be named during 2002.[88][89]Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest storm during the decade and was responsible for over 3,000 deaths, when it impacted Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean as a tropical storm and minimal hurricane.[90] During October 2005, Hurricane Wilma became the most intense tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin on record, with a central pressure of 882hPa (26.05inHg).[50] There were no names retired for the 2006 and 2009 seasons.[15] Collectively, the 24 systems were responsible for nearly 7,900 fatalities and in excess of US$300billion in damage.
Hurricane Harvey hours before landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017
Some of the most devastating hurricanes to hit the United States in recorded history did so in the 2010s, a decade in which 30 named storms were classified as major hurricanes (out of 152 named storms).[124] Altogether, 16 tropical cyclone names were retired during the 2010s.[nb 2] Collectively, these systems killed at least 4779 people and caused at least $450billion worth of damage. Among them, Hurricane Maria was the most intense tropical cyclone by pressure, with a minimum value of 908hPa (26.81inHg), as well as the deadliest, with 3,057 fatalities directly or indirectly caused by Maria. Hurricane Dorian was the most intense in terms of wind speed, with maximum sustained winds of 185mph (295km/h). Hurricane Harvey was the decade's costliest system, as well as the costliest overall, tied with 2005's Katrina. There were no names retired for the 2014 season.
Hurricane Ian at peak intensity while approaching southwest Florida on September 28, 2022
Six tropical cyclone names have been retired so far in the 2020s. Hurricane Laura was the costliest hurricane of the 2020 season, causing over $23billion in damages, much of which occurred along the southwestern Louisiana coast as a result of its 18ft (5.5m) storm surge. Hurricanes Eta and Iota both made landfall in Nicaragua, with Iota doing so with maximum sustained winds near 145mph (233km/h). Each brought torrential rain and then flooding to much of Central America.[133]Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeastern Louisiana with sustained winds of 150mph (240km/h); the costliest hurricane of the 2021 season, Ida caused $75 billion damage and directly caused 55 deaths from the southeastern United States to New England.[1][134]Hurricane Fiona caused major devastation to the islands in the Caribbean Sea and was the most intense storm by barometric pressure to strike Atlantic Canada. Hurricane Ian was the third-costliest tropical cyclone on record, only behind hurricanes Katrina and Harvey in 2005 and 2017, respectively. Ian made landfall in western Florida and devastated the state before losing hurricane strength. Thereafter, Ian entered the Atlantic Ocean, intensifying to Category 1 strength, and hit the coast of South Carolina. There were no names retired for the 2023 season.
The 1976 Atlantic hurricane season was a fairly average Atlantic hurricane season in which 21 tropical or subtropical cyclones formed. 10 of them became nameable storms. Six of those reached hurricane strength, with two of the six becoming major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The season officially began on June 1 and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, the first system, a subtropical storm, developed in the Gulf of Mexico on May 21, several days before the official start of the season. The system spawned nine tornadoes in Florida, resulting in about $628,000 (1976 USD) in damage, though impact was minor otherwise.
The 1937 Pacific hurricane season ran through the summer and fall of 1937. Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes was extremely unreliable. Most east Pacific storms were of no threat to land. 1937 season was mostly inactive season, as there is no known tropical cyclones in September during this season. In May, a tropical cyclone struck Acapulco, cutting that city off from the outside communication for four days, causing buildings in the city to be damaged, and caused a woman's death.
The 1933 Pacific hurricane season ran through the summer and fall of 1933. Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes was extremely unreliable. Most east Pacific storms were of no threat to land.
The 1928 Pacific hurricane season ran through the summer and fall of 1928. Before the satellite age started in the 1960s, data on east Pacific hurricanes was extremely unreliable. Most east Pacific storms were of no threat to land.
Hurricane Irene–Olivia was the first actively tracked tropical cyclone to move into the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic basin. It originated as a tropical depression on September 11, 1971, in the tropical Atlantic. The cyclone tracked nearly due westward at a low latitude, passing through the southern Windward Islands and later over northern South America. In the southwest Caribbean Sea, it intensified to a tropical storm and later a hurricane. Irene made landfall on southeastern Nicaragua on September 19, and maintained its circulation as it crossed the low-lying terrain of the country. Restrengthening after reaching the Pacific, Irene was renamed Hurricane Olivia, which ultimately attained peak winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Olivia weakened significantly before moving ashore on the Baja California Peninsula on September 30; the next day it dissipated.
Tropical Storm Alma, the first named storm to develop in the 1974 Atlantic hurricane season, was a short lived tropical cyclone that made a rare Venezuelan landfall. The storm formed from the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on August 12 well to the east of the Windward Islands, but advisories were not issued until the next day when Alma was at peak intensity. Alma entered the southeastern Caribbean Sea at an unusually brisk westward pace of between 20 mph (32 km/h) to 25 mph (40 km/h), prompting numerous watches and gale warnings throughout the nations in this region. After crossing Trinidad, Alma became one of only four tropical storms to traverse the Paria Peninsula of northeastern Venezuela. The storm dissipated on August 15 over the high terrain of Venezuela.
The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2002. There were several natural disasters around the world from various types of weather, including blizzards, cold waves, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, and tropical cyclones. The deadliest disaster was a heat wave in India in May, which killed more than 1,030 people. The costliest event of the year was a flood in Europe in August, which killed 232 people and caused €27.7 billion (US$27.115 billion) in damage. In September, Typhoon Rusa struck South Korea, killing at least 213 people and causing at least ₩5.148 trillion (US$4.2 billion) in damage.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dorst, Neal; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (October 23, 2012). "They Called the Wind Mahina: The History of Naming Cyclones"(pptx). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. p.Slides 62– 72. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
↑ Roth, David M (January 13, 2010). Louisiana Hurricane History(PDF). Southern Region Headquarters. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. p.36. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
1 2 3 "It's time (June) to match for Anna...". The Daily Gleaner. Kingston, Jamaica. Reuters. June 1, 1969. p.2.–viaThe Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
↑ Canadian Hurricane Centre (September 14, 2010). 1954-Carol (Storm Impact Summaries). Environment Canada. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
↑ "Hurricane Edna". United States National Weather Service Forecast Office in Boston, Massachusetts. December 5, 2005. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
↑ Kohler, Joseph P, ed. (1960). New Procedure for naming tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic (Mariners Weather Log: March 1960). Vol.4. United States Weather Bureau.
↑ Hurricane Celia: July 31– August 5 (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. July 12, 1997. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
↑ Rappaport, Edward N; Fernandez-Partagas, Jose (January 1995). The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492– 1994(PDF) (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-47). United States National Hurricane Center. p.23. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
↑ Hurricane Allen July 31– August 11 (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. pp.1–6. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
↑ Rappaport, Edward N; National Hurricane Center (December 10, 1993). Hurricane Andrew: August 16– 28 (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
↑ Mayfield, Britt Max (November 2, 1995). Hurricane Opal: September 27– October 6, 1995(PDF) (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ Avila, Lixion A; National Hurricane Center (October 23, 1996). Hurricane Hortense September 3 - 16, 1996 (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
↑ Guiney, John L; National Hurricane Center (January 5, 1999). Hurricane Georges: September 15 - October 1, 1998(PDF) (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (March 22, 1999). Caribbean— Hurricane Georges Situation Report No. 3(PDF) (Report). ReliefWeb. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
↑ National Climatic Data Center (2004). "Mitch: The Deadliest Atlantic Hurricane Since 1780". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Kimberlain, Todd B; Stewart, Stacy R (November 18, 1999). Hurricane Floyd: September 7 - 17, 1999(PDF) (Preliminary Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ Pan American Health Organization (2007). "Anguilla"(PDF). Health in the Americas, 2007. II–Countries. Archived from the original(PDF) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
↑ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (November 30, 1999). "Hurricane Lenny OCHA Situation Report No. 7". Relief Web. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
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↑ Beven II, John L (January 29, 2001). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Keith(PDF) (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
↑ "Desastres naturales" (in Spanish). Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. February 14, 2002. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
↑ Fogarty, Chris (May 12, 2005). "Hurricane Juan Storm Summary"(PDF). Canadian Hurricane Centre. NovaWeather. Archived(PDF) from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Blake, Eric S; Brown, Daniel P (October 18, 2004). Hurricane Charley August 9– 15(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
↑ Knabb, Richard D; Rhome, Jamie R; Brown, Daniel P; National Hurricane Center (December 20, 2005). Hurricane Katrina: August 23– 30, 2005(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Roberts, David P; National Hurricane Center (February 4, 2006). Hurricane Stan: October 1– 5, 2005(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Blake, Eric S; Cobb III, Hugh D; Roberts, David P (January 12, 2006). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Wilma: October 15– 26, 2005(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ Beven, John L; Kimberlain, Todd B (January 22, 2009). Hurricane Gustav: August 25– September 4, 2008(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
↑ Telling the Weather Story(PDF) (Report). Insurance Bureau of Canada. June 4, 2012. Archived from the original(PDF) on June 9, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
↑ Blake, Eric S; Kimberlain, Todd B; Berg, Robert J; Cangialosi, John P; Beven II, John L (February 12, 2013). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Sandy: October 22– 29, 2012(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Penny, Andrew B; Berg, Robbie (January 4, 2023). Hurricane Maria: September 16– 30, 2017(PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
↑ Beven, John L; Hagen, Andrew; Berg, Robbie (April 4, 2022). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ida(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
↑ Pasch, Richard J; Reinhart, Brad; Alaka, Laura (March 23, 2023). Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Fiona(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
↑ Bucci, Lisa; Alaka, Laura; Hagen, Andrew; Delgado, Sandy; Beven, John L (April 3, 2023). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian(PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived(PDF) from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
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