Atlantic Hurricane Names

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

Because hurricanes often occur at the same time, officials assign short, distinctive names to the storms to avoid confusion among weather stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea. Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists created by the National Hurricane Center and now maintained and updated by the World Meteorological Organization. The lists featured only women's names until 1979, when men's and women's names were alternated. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014. If all the names in a season's list have been used, later storms are named for Greek letters, in alphabetical order. (This has happened only once, in 2005.) A storm is given a name once its winds reach a speed of 40 mph. In addition to the Atlantic list of names, there are ten other lists corresponding to other storm-prone regions of the world.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Arthur Ana Alex Arlene Alberto Andrea
Bertha Bill Bonnie Bret Beryl Barry
Cristobal Claudette Colin Cindy Chris Chantal
Dolly Danny Danielle Don Debby Dorian
Edouard Erika Earl Emily Ernesto Erin
Fay Fred Fiona Franklin Florence Fernand
Gustav Grace Gaston Gert Gordon Gabrielle
Hanna Henri Hermine Harvey Helene Humberto
Ike Ida Igor Irene Isaac Ingrid
Josephine Joaquin Julia Jose Joyce Jerry
Kyle Kate Karl Katia Kirk Karen
Laura Larry Lisa Lee Leslie Lorenzo
Marco Mindy Matthew Maria Michael Melissa
Nana Nicholas Nicole Nate Nadine Nestor
Omar Odette Otto Ophelia Oscar Olga
Paloma Peter Paula Philippe Patty Pablo
Rene Rose Richard Rina Rafael Rebekah
Sally Sam Shary Sean Sandy Sebastien
Teddy Teresa Tomas Tammy Tony Tanya
Vicky Victor Virginie Vince Valerie Van
Wilfred Wanda Walter Whitney William Wendy
Source: National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Web: www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml .

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