Rapid Fire
WMO Retired Hurricane Names for 2024
- 11 Apr 2025
- 2 min read
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has retired four hurricane names Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John from its Atlantic and East Pacific storm lists due to the devastation they caused in 2024, making their reuse inappropriate due to the associated trauma and sensitivity.
- Beryl became the earliest Category-5 hurricane (Winds exceeding 157 miles per hour) on record, severely impacting the Caribbean.
- Helene and Milton caused catastrophic damage in the United States, while John led to deadly flooding in Mexico.
- WMO has selected Brianna, Holly, and Miguel as replacements in the Atlantic, and Jake in the eastern Pacific. Storm names are reused every six years unless retired due to severe impact.
- Naming of Cyclones in India: India uses a one-time naming system for cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
- Cyclones are assigned names once wind speeds exceed 34 knots or more, and these names are never reused, even if the cyclone moves into another region.
- The India Meteorological Department names cyclones in coordination with the Tropical Cyclone Regional Body on behalf of littoral countries, which includes 13 countries (India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Yemen).
| Read more:New List of Names of Tropical Cyclones |
