In a move that comes as no surprise given the devastating impacts, the World Meteorological Organization announced the retirement of three hurricane names due to their ferocity last year. The hurricanes in question—Helene, Milton, and Beryl—were responsible for over 300 fatalities and inflicted more than $119 billion in damages. Their names will no longer be reused following their official removal from the rotating list of Atlantic storm names.
Each year, a committee of international meteorologists preselects names for storms that circulate on a six-year rotation. When a hurricane causes substantial damage or loss of life, its name is retired and replaced. This year, the names Brianna, Holly, and Miguel will substitute for the outgoing names, ensuring the list remains current and respectful to those affected by past disasters. The practice of names’ retirement is not uncommon, with nearly 100 names having been withdrawn over the years.
Among the trio, Hurricane Helene stood out as the most lethal and costly event. It claimed 249 lives, marking it the deadliest storm in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Financially, Helene ranks as the seventh most damaging storm in U.S. history, resulting in $78.7 billion in losses. Initially arriving in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, Helene’s most disastrous effects were felt inland through North Carolina and South Carolina, primarily due to severe flooding.
Following closely after Helene, Hurricane Milton wrought havoc, particularly in Florida, with its mix of high winds, flooding, and tornadoes, resulting in $34.3 billion in damage. Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl made history by forming unusually early as a Category 5 storm in June. It claimed 68 lives across several regions, including the United States, Grenada, Venezuela, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In the Pacific, a name change has also taken place. John, a Category 3 hurricane that resulted in the deaths of 29 individuals in Mexico, will be replaced by the name Jack moving forward.