The Next Names on the Hurricane List
Here’s hoping we’ve seen the last of the hurricanes this year after Helene and Milton. But just in case Mother Nature has more surprises for us, here are the names you can expect for the rest of the season.
Next Up: Hurricane Names for 2024
Here’s a sneak peek at the upcoming hurricane names for the 2024 season:
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony
- Valerie
- William
Complete Hurricane Names List for 2024
You can see the entire list of names below (many have been used already).
- Alberto
- Chris
- Debby
- Ernesto
- Francine
- Gordon
- Helene
- Isaac
- Joyce
- Kirk
- Leslie
- Milton
- Nadine
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony
- Valerie
- William
Who Picks Hurricane Names?
You might ask yourself, “Who comes up with the names for hurricanes?” That would be the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Since the 1950s, the WMO has been in charge of naming hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean and other areas.
The History of Naming Hurricanes
The practice of naming hurricanes goes back to the 1800s when storms were often identified by the places they hit, the year they happened, or even the name of a saint. This system could get pretty confusing, especially when multiple hurricanes pop up at the same time. To clear things up, hurricanes started getting official names instead.
Timeline
- 1800s: Hurricanes were usually named after the places they hit, the year they happened, or the name of a saint.
- 1953: The U.S. started to use female names for hurricanes, a practice inspired by the military’s phonetic alphabet.
- 1978: Male names made their debut in the Eastern North Pacific storm lists.
- 1979: By 1979, both male and female names were officially included in the lists for hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
- Present Day: Nowadays, hurricane names alternate between male and female in alphabetical order. These names are chosen years in advance and are part of a rotating list that gets refreshed every six years.
Why Do Hurricane Names Matter?
Giving storms names makes it a lot easier to talk about them, so you don’t have to rely on confusing phrases like “that storm” or “the one by Florida.” Plus, when storms have names, they feel more real, which means people are more likely to take necessary precautions.
Why Are Hurricane Names Retired?
Sometimes, a hurricane leaves such a devastating mark—causing extensive damage and loss of life—that its name is retired as a gesture of respect for those affected and to prevent future confusion.
Well-Known Retired Hurricane Names
Here are five of the most notable hurricane names that have been retired:
- Katrina (2005)
- Andrew (1992)
- Harvey (2017)
- Sandy (2012)
- Irma (2017)
