The Fascinating Way Hurricanes and Tropical Storms Are Named Each Year
As hurricane season ramps up, we are always wondering how the names for hurricanes and tropical storms are picked. In the U.S., the Atlantic hurricane season is typically June through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a "near-normal" tropical season for 2023. That means we can expect to see 12 to 17 named storms, so we'll be hearing these names on news reports in the coming months (two have already formed: Arlene and Bret).
How do they come up with hurricane names?
A storm gets a name once it reaches tropical storm status (that is, it has a rotating circulation pattern and sustained winds of 39 miles per hour). The list is compiled by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization. The list of 21 Atlantic hurricane names is alphabetical, and letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are never used. Before 1978, names were exclusively female, but they have since alternated between male and female names. The WMO chooses names that are short and distinctive to help convey information with clarity, and they select a mix of English, French, and Spanish names.
How far in advance are hurricanes named?
The names are planned out through 2028, but the lists actually repeat every six years. The names of the 2023 storms will be used once again in 2029. The only time the rotating lists of names changes is if a name is retired.
What are the 2023 hurricane names?
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harold
Idalia
Jose
Katia
Lee
Margot
Nigel
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
Are any retired hurricane names?
Yes, according to the NOAA, a hurricane name will be retired if a storm is "so deadly or costly that the future use of its name for a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity." If that happens, the WMO will choose another name to take its place. Since 1954, a total of 96 hurricane names have been retired and replaced, including Andrew, Katrina, Sandy, Irma, Ivan, and Hugo.
What happens if there are more hurricanes than names?
Prior to 2021, if the list of 21 named storms was exhausted in a given year, the remaining storms would be named according to the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, etc.). The WHO changed that procedure after the active 2020 season, when all 22 names and the first 9 letters of the Greek alphabet were used. The committee made the change "because it creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing." Instead, a list of alternative names was compiled, and the WHO will choose names from that list if the need arises.
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