A look at the 2023 hurricane names, which ones have been retired and how they're named:
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season names are out. There are 21 names on the list, starting with Arlene, a name with history as Hurricane Arlene was the first tropical cyclone of the 1963 Atlantic hurricane season and was one of the wettest storms ever recorded in Bermuda.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) manages six rotating lists of names, which are issued in alphabetical order. The 2023 names were last used during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season and will be used again in 2029.
The names Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were retired after the 2017 season, replaced with Harold, Idalia, Margot and Nigel.
Hurricane season 2023 predictions: Hurricane season 2023 starts June 1. Here's the latest predictions and how to prepare:
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Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harold
Idalia
Jose
Katia
Lee
Margot
Nigel
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
Retired hurricane names
While the WMO typically reuses the same names from six rotating lists, names are occasionally retired. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), WMO will retire names that were used for notably deadly or costly storms where it would be inappropriate to use them in the future due to reasons of sensitivity.
There is an exception to the retirement rule, however. Before 1979, when the first permanent six-year storm name list began, some storm names were simply not used anymore. In 1966, "Fern" was substituted for "Frieda," and no reason was cited.
So far, 96 Atlantic tropical cyclone names have been retired since 1953.
“I” is the most retired letter
The letter “I” is the most retired letter of the alphabet when it comes to hurricane names. After Ian, there have been a total of 14 retired I-lettered hurricane names. The letter “F” follows behind with 10 retired names.
Alternate hurricane names
Each list of names used during the Atlantic hurricane season consists of 21 names, but during abnormally active seasons, the WMO has an alternate list of names for each basin.
Previously, the Greek alphabet was used to name storms if all of the initial 21 names were used. This naming convention was scrapped after 2020 when several Greek-letter storms were retired.
Adria
Braylen
Caridad
Deshawn
Emery
Foster
Gemma
Heath
Isla
Jacobus
Kenzie
Lucio
Makayla
Nolan
Orlanda
Pax
Ronin
Sophie
Tayshaun
Viviana
Will
Why are hurricanes named?
Short, distinctive names that are easy to read and speak reduce the probability of error in communication compared to other types of identification methods, according to the NHC.
Reducing those margins of error is crucial when communicating with hundreds of stations, coastal bases and ships at sea. The simplification also helps reduce confusion when two or more tropical storms are happening at the same time.
Changes to 2023 forecasts: National Hurricane Center used to give 2-day outlooks. In 2023, it will forecast 7 days out.
How are hurricanes named?
The NHC began naming storms in 1953, though the names are now maintained and updated by the WMO. According to the WMO, the original name list featured only women’s names, but men’s names were introduced in 1979 and now alternate with women’s names.
Named weather events are not named after any particular person, says the WMO. The organization chooses names they believe people in each region will be familiar with and are easy to understand and remember to increase risk awareness, preparedness, management and reduction.
The Tropical Cyclone Regional Body responsible for a basin uses a strict procedure to determine a list of names for their basin in annual and biennial meetings. In some of the regions, the lists are established by alphabetical order of the names. In other regions, the lists are established following the alphabetical order of the country names.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Hurricane season 2023 names: "I" is most retired letter
