List of retired Pacific hurricane names explained

Within the Pacific Ocean, the name of any significant tropical cyclone can be retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists by the World Meteorological Organization if it concludes that a storm was so deadly or damaging that any future use of that name would be inappropriate. Storm names can also be retired for other reasons, such as being deemed politically insensitive. Within the Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific basins (between 140°W and the western coast of North America and between the International Date Line (180°) and 140°W, respectively, and north of the Equator), a total of 21 names have been retired from the official lists.[1] The deadliest system to have its name retired was Hurricane Pauline, which caused over 230 fatalities when it struck Mexico during October 1997, while the costliest hurricane was Hurricane Otis which caused an economic impact of over in October 2023. Dora and Otis were the most recent Pacific tropical cyclones to have their names retired.[2]

Background

See main article: Tropical cyclone naming, History of tropical cyclone naming and List of historic tropical cyclone names. In 1950 a tropical cyclone that affected Hawaii was named Able, after a tropical cyclone had not affected Hawaii for a number of years. The system subsequently became widely known as Hurricane Hiki, since Hiki is Hawaiian for Able.[3] [4] Typhoons Olive and Della of 1952 and 1957, respectively, developed within the Central Pacific, but were not named until they had crossed the International Dateline and moved into the Western Pacific basin.[3] [5] During 1957, two other tropical cyclones developed in the Central Pacific and were named Kanoa and Nina by the Hawaiian military meteorological offices.[5] It was subsequently decided that future tropical cyclones would be named by borrowing names from the Western Pacific naming lists.[6]

Within the Eastern Pacific basin the naming of tropical cyclones started in 1960, with four sets of female names initially designed to be used consecutively before being repeated.[7] In 1965 after two lists of names had been used, it was decided to return to the top of the second list and to start recycling the sets of names on an annual basis.[8] In 1977 after protests by various women's rights groups, NOAA made the decision to relinquish control over the name selection by allowing a regional committee of the WMO to select new sets of names.[9] The WMO selected six lists of names which contained male names and rotated every six years.[9] They also decided that the new lists of hurricane name would start to be used in 1978 which was a year earlier than the Atlantic.[10] Since 1978 the same lists of names have been used, with names of significant tropical cyclones removed from the lists and replaced with new names.

During 1979, after ten names had been borrowed from the Western Pacific naming lists, Hawaiian names were reinstated for tropical cyclones developing into tropical storms forming in the Central Pacific.[8] Five sets of Hawaiian names, using only the 12 letters of the Hawaiian alphabet, were drafted with the intent being to use the sets of names on an annual rotation basis.[8] However, after no storms had developed in this region between 1979 and 1981, the annual lists were scrapped and replaced with four sets of names and designed to be used consecutively.[8] [11] Ahead of the 2007 hurricane season, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) and the Hawaii State Civil Defense requested that the hurricane committee retire eleven names from the Eastern Pacific naming lists.[12] However, the committee declined the request and noted that its criteria for the retirement of names was "well defined and very strict."[13] It was felt that while the systems may have had a significant impact on the Hawaiian Islands, none of the impacts were major enough to warrant the retirement of the names.[13] It was also noted that the committee had previously not retired names for systems that had a greater impact than those that had been submitted.[13] The CPHC also introduced a revised set of Hawaiian names for the Central Pacific, after they had worked with the University of Hawaii Hawaiian Studies Department to ensure the correct meaning and appropriate historical and cultural use of the names.[12] [14]

The practice of retiring significant names was started during 1955 by the United States Weather Bureau in the Atlantic basin, after hurricanes Carol, Edna, and Hazel struck the Northeastern United States and caused a significant amount of damage in the previous year.[15] Initially the names were only designed to be retired for ten years after which they might be reintroduced, however, it was decided at the 1969 Interdepartmental hurricane conference that any significant hurricane in the future would have its name permanently retired.[15] [16] Several names have been removed from the Pacific naming lists for various reasons other than for causing a significant amount of death/destruction, which include being pronounced in a very similar way to other names and for political reasons.[17] [18]

Names retired in the Eastern Pacific basin

In the Eastern Pacific basin (between 140°W and the western coast of North America), 17 names have been retired as of 2024.[2] [17] Prior to the start of the modern naming lists in 1978, the names Hazel and Adele were retired from the list of names for reasons that are not clear. The name Fico was subsequently retired after the system had affected Hawaii in 1978, while the name Knut was removed after being used in 1987 for unknown reasons having barely reaching tropical storm strength. In 1989 the name Iva was removed as it was pronounced very similarly to Iwa, which was retired from the Central Pacific lists of names in 1982 after affecting Hawaii.[18] In the early 1990s the names Fefa and Ismael were both retired after they affected Hawaii and Northern Mexico, respectively. Hurricane Pauline became the deadliest Eastern Pacific hurricane, and its name was retired after it affected Mexico in 1997.

Political considerations prompted retirement of the name Adolph and removal of the name Israel at the start of the 2001 season, after controversy arose over their use.[17] [19] [20] The name Kenna was retired in 2003 after it became one of the most intense Pacific hurricanes ever recorded. The name Alma was retired in 2009 after it had become the first Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone on record to make landfall along the Pacific Coast of Central America.[21] The name Manuel was retired in 2013, after it became the first Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in mainland Mexico, redevelop over water, and become a hurricane.[22] At the 2015 hurricane committee meeting the name Odile was retired from the list of names after it became the first major hurricane to affect Baja California in 25 years.[23] [24] At that same meeting, the name Isis—last used during the 2004 season—was preemptively removed from the list of names for 2016; it was deemed inappropriate to be used because of the Islamic extremist militant group which was then called by the same name.[23]

NameDates activePeak classificationSustained
wind speeds		PressureAreas affectedDamage
(USD)		DeathsRefs
bgcolor=#bgcolor=#bgcolor=#Mexico 6 [25]
bgcolor=#Category 1 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#None [26]
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#Hawaii [27]
bgcolor=#bgcolor=#bgcolor=#None [28]
bgcolor=#Category 2 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#None [29]
bgcolor=#Category 3 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#Hawaii
bgcolor=#Category 1 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#983hPa Northern Mexico
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#948hPa
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#940hPa Western Mexico [30]
bgcolor=#Category 5 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#Western Mexico
Southwestern United States 		[31] [32]
bgcolor=#Category 1 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#None [33]
bgcolor=#bgcolor=#bgcolor=#994hPa 9 [34]
bgcolor=#Category 1 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#983hPa Western Mexico [35]
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#918hPa Baja California Peninsula
bgcolor=#Category 5 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#872hPa Central America, Mexico, Texas [36]
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#939hPa Hawaii None None –
bgcolor=#Category 5 hurricane bgcolor=#bgcolor=#922hPa Guerrero –
17 names

Names retired in the Central Pacific basin

In the Central Pacific basin (between the International Date Line (180°) and 140°W), four names have been retired as of 2024.[17] Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki were retired after impacting Hawaii, while Paka and Ioke were retired after affecting various islands in Micronesia.

NameDates activePeak classificationSustained
wind speeds		PressureAreas affectedDamage
(USD)		DeathsRefs
bgcolor=#Category 1 hurricane bgcolor=#80kn bgcolor=#968hPa Hawaii 4 [37] [38] [39]
bgcolor=#Category 4 hurricane bgcolor=#125kn bgcolor=#938hPa Hawaii 6 [40] [41]
bgcolor=#Category 5 super typhoon bgcolor=#160kn bgcolor=#920hPa Marshall Islands, Guam,
Mariana Islands 		[42]
bgcolor=#Category 5 hurricane bgcolor=#140kn bgcolor=#915hPa [43]
4 names

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Andrews. Hillary. Baker. Aaron. March 20, 2024. Hurricane names Dora, Otis retired from Pacific list after deadly wrath. FOX Weather. March 21, 2024.
  2. News: March 20, 2024. WMO Hurricane Committee retires the names Otis and Dora from the eastern North Pacific basin name list . March 20, 2024. World Meteorological Organization.
  3. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical Cyclones During the Years 1900-1952. August 8, 2014. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
  4. Simpson, Robert H. Hiki—Hawaii's First Hurricane of Record. Weatherwise. 127–128. 10.1080/00431672.1950.9927066. 0043-1672. December 1950. 3. 7.
  5. Web site: The 1957 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. April 12, 2012. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 21, 2014.
  6. Book: Landsea, Christopher W . Dorst, Neal . June 1, 2014 . Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions . Subject: B1) How are tropical cyclones named? . United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . June 21, 2014 . http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B1.html . Hurricane Research Division . https://archive.today/20240524033109/https://www.webcitation.org/6Q9nmDAns?url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/TCFAQ_B.txt . May 24, 2024 . live .
  7. Mariners Weather Log. 4. 4. July 1960. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Oceanographic Data Service. 648466886. 0025-3367. Kohler, Joseph P. 107. On The Editors Desk: Names for North Pacific Tropical Cyclones. Mariners Weather Log. 2027/uc1.b3876059.
  8. Padgett, Gary . November 2007 First Installment . July 13, 2008 . Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary . June 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020033350/http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0711a.htm . October 20, 2013 . live .
  9. Web site: Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone summary: August 2007 . Gary Padgett . January 1, 2008 . December 31, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606010056/http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2008/summ0708.htm . June 6, 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Big Blows to get his and her names. Staff Writer. May 12, 1978. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. July 8, 2010.
  11. Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and Supporting Research . National Hurricane Operations Plan: 1980 . May 1980 . 19 . November 26, 2013 . FCM 80-2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131126065556/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/1980NHOpsPlanComplete.pdf . June 21, 2014 . dead .
  12. 61st IHC action items . Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology . November 29, 2007 . 5–7 . June 13, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040613131200/http://www.ofcm.gov/homepage/text/spc_proj/ihc/action-items.pdf . June 21, 2014 . dead .
  13. RA IV Hurricane Committee 29th Session . February 1, 2008 . March 4, 2016 . RA IV Hurricane Committee . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051344/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/HC29_final_report-english.pdf . World Meteorological Organization . 7–8 . June 21, 2014 . dead .
  14. NOAA announces Central Pacific hurricane season outlook . Central Pacific Hurricane Center . May 21, 2007 . November 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131106035802/http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2007/may07/noaa07-r212.html . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . June 21, 2014 . dead .
  15. Web site: [ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/dorst/Mahina.pptx They Called the Wind Mahina: The History of Naming Cyclones]. Dorst, Neal. United States Hurricane Research Division. Slides 8–72. October 23, 2012.
  16. News: It's time (June) to match for Anna.... The Daily Gleaner. June 1, 1969. Reuters. 2. Kingston, Jamaica.
  17. Book: June 21, 2014 . Landsea, Christopher . Dorst, Neal . Free, James Lewis . Delgado, Sandy . United States Hurricane Research Division . June 20, 2014 . Subject: B3) What storm names have been retired? . Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions . http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B3.html . deviated . https://archive.today/20240524033148/https://www.webcitation.org/75DxSlowj?url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B3.html . 2024-05-24 .
  18. Minutes of the 43rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference. The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. 23.
  19. News: Storm brewing over hurricane named Israel. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025545/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-44813885.html. dead. June 11, 2014. The Jerusalem Post. July 21, 2012. May 21, 2001. Wohlhelernter, Elli.
  20. News: Storm blows over as 'Hurricane Israel' is retired. June 6, 2001. The Jerusalem Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20140611025547/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45044545.html. dead. June 11, 2014. July 21, 2012.
  21. Four Hurricane Names Retired From List of Storms . live . May 1, 2009 . July 14, 2014 . United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714235212/http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090501_names.html . June 21, 2014 .
  22. WMO retires Ingrid and Manuel for Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins . April 10, 2014 . United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . live . April 24, 2014 . June 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140424123848/http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2014/20140410_hurricanenameretired.html .
  23. News: 'Isis' among names retired from UN list of hurricane names. https://web.archive.org/web/20150417230737/http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5N0XE32O20150417. dead. April 17, 2015. April 17, 2015. Reuters. April 17, 2015.
  24. Cangialosi, John P. Kimberlain, Todd P. March 4, 2015. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. April 17, 2015. [{{NHC TCR url|id=EP152014_Odile}} Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Odile: September 10 - 18, 2014]. PDF.
  25. Mariners Weather Log. March 1966. Eastern North Pacific Hurricanes, 1965. 648466886. United States Environmental Science Services Administration's National Oceanographic Data Service. 0025-3367. Hughes, Patrick E. 43. 10. 2. 2027/mdp.39015012688092.
  26. Mariners Weather Log. March 1971. Eastern North Pacific Hurricanes, 1970. 648466886. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Oceanographic Data Service. 2. 0025-3367. 43. 15. Hughes, Patrick E. 2027/uc1.b3876046.
  27. Book: The State of Hawaii Data Book . State of Hawaii, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism . 2012 . Geography and Environment . April 15, 2014 . http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/databook/db2012/db2012.pdf . 276 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191454/http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/databook/db2012/db2012.pdf . April 16, 2014 . dead .
  28. October 1988. Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1987. Monthly Weather Review. 116. 10. 10.1175/1520-0493.116.10.2106.1. Cross R.L. 2106–2117. 1988MWRv..116.2106C. free.
  29. Gerrish, Harold P. Mayfield, Britt Max. Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1988. Monthly Weather Review. 117. 10. 2266. 10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2266:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2. 1989MWRv..117.2266G. 1989. free.
  30. Avila, Lixion A. Pasch, Richard J. Beven, John L. Franklin, James L. Lawrence, Miles B. Stewart, Stacy R. Jiing, Jiann-Gwo. Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2001. Monthly Weather Review. January 2003. 131. 1. 249–262. 10.1175/1520-0493(2003)131<0249:ASNPHS>2.0.CO;2. 2003MWRv..131..249A. free.
  31. Hurricane Kenna - 22 - 26 October 2002 . Franklin, James L . Tropical Cyclone Report . May 26, 2012 . December 26, 2002 . United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140716085913/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002kenna.shtml . 16 July 2014 .
  32. Carpenter, Guy . January 30, 2003 . 2002 Tropical Cyclone Review . January 1, 2007 . https://www.webcitation.org/6PbLw6ex9?url=http://gcportal.guycarp.com/portal/extranet/popup/pdf/GCPub/tropcyc_02.pdf;JSESSIONIDGCPORTALWCPORTALAPP=mfYhT1lNyzPGt0tp3JVyy1nHVQJw459j6j1khZzhBfL4zYLq8Zwh!-158796142?vid=1 . May 16, 2014 . dead .
  33. James L. Franklin. David P. Roberts. Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isis. National Hurricane Center. November 17, 2004. August 1, 2022.
  34. [{{NHC TCR url|id=EP012008_Alma}} Tropical Storm Alma - 29-30 May 2008]. Brown, Daniel P. Tropical Cyclone Report. June 3, 2014. July 7, 2008. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
  35. Pasch, Richard J . Zelinsky, David A . January 6, 2014 . United States National Hurricane Center . May 16, 2014 . [{{NHC TCR url|id=EP132013_Manuel}} Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Manuel: September 13 - 19, 2013 ]. PDF . https://www.webcitation.org/6PbKPMC3a?url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/EP132013_Manuel.pdf . May 16, 2014 . dead .
  36. Kimberlain, Todd B. Blake, Eric S. Cangialosi, John P. United States National Hurricane Center. February 1, 2016. April 26, 2016. [{{NHC TCR url|id=EP202015_Patricia}} Hurricane Patricia]. Tropical Cyclone Report. PDF.
  37. The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) . Blake, Eric S . National Hurricane Center . Gibney, Ethan J . Landsea, Christopher W . December 21, 2012 . live . August 2011 . NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-6 . November 27, 2012 . United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service . https://web.archive.org/web/20121221124852/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf . 29 .
  38. June 8, 2012. The 1982 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. NOAA Technical Memorandum NWSTM PR-29.
  39. News: Tsai, Michael . July 2, 2006 . May 16, 2014 . Hurricane Iwa . July 11, 2007 . Honolulu Advertiser . https://web.archive.org/web/20070711091209/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/150/sesq5iwa . dead .
  40. The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Central Pacific Hurricane Center. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. April 14, 2014.
  41. January 27, 2018. live. January 12, 2018. Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update. January 12, 2018. United States National Hurricane Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083930/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf.
  42. Storm Data . Del Greco, Stephen . Hinson, Stuart . National Climatic Data Center . Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena . 1997 . 66 . April 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416183639/http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-5D332725-E68E-4A72-ACC1-EA4FEAF04B90.pdf . 0039-1972 . April 16, 2014 . dead .
  43. Advisory Council for Historic Preservation . May 7, 2007 . Spring 2007 Case Digest — Protecting Historic Properties section 106 in action . dead . April 15, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130216135905/http://www.achp.gov/docs/case_spring_07small.pdf . February 16, 2013 .

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