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Tropical Cyclone Naming
1. Historical Background
The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago in order to help in the quick identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember that numbers and technical terms. Many agree that appending names to storms makes it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones, heightens interest in warnings and increases community preparedness.
Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.
In the beginning, storms were named arbitrarily. An Atlantic storm that ripped off the mast of a boat named Antje became known as Antje's hurricane. Then the mid-1900's saw the start of the practice of using feminine names for storms.
In the pursuit of a more organized and efficient naming system, meteorologists later decided to identify storms using names from a list arranged alpabetically. Thus, a storm with a name which begins with A, like Anne, would be the first storm to occur in the year. Before the end of the 1900's, forecasters started using male names for those forming in the Southern Hemisphere.
Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The original name lists featured only women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced and they alternate with the women's names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014.
The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committees (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it. Infamous storm names such as Katrina (USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998) and Tracy (Darwin, 1974) are examples for this.
2. Procedure of Naming Tropical Cyclones
There is a strict procedure to determine a list of tropical cyclone names in an ocean basin(s) by the Tropical Cyclone Regional Body responsible for that basin(s) at its annual/biennial meeting. There are five tropical cyclone regional bodies, i.e. ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee, RA IV Hurricane Committee, and RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee. For instance, Hurricane Committee determines a pre-designated list of hurricane names for six years separately at its annual session. The pre-designated list of hurricane names are proposed by its members that include National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the North/Central America and the Caribbean. Naming procedures in other regions are almost the same as in the Caribbean. In general, tropical cyclones are named according to the rules at a regional level.
It is important to note that tropical cyclones/hurricanes are named neither after any particular person, nor with any preference in alphabetical sequence. The tropical cyclone/hurricane names selected are those that are familiar to the people in each region. Obviously, the main purpose of naming a tropical cyclone/hurricane is basically for people easily to understand and remember the tropical cyclone/hurricane in a region, thus to facilitate tropical cyclone/hurricane disaster risk awareness, preparedness, management and reduction.
3. Tropical Cyclone Names Worldwide
Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Names |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
| Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred |
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Erika
Fred
Grace
Henri
Ida
Joaquin
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda |
Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter |
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney |
Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William |
Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dorian
Erin
Fernand
Gabrielle
Humberto
Ingrid
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy |
Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gonzalo
Hanna
Isaias
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paulette
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred |
The six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014.
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Eastern North Pacific Names |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Alma
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan
Iselle
Julio
Karina
Lowell
Marie
Norbert
Odile
Polo
Rachel
Simon
Trudy
Vance
Winnie
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke |
Andres
Blanca
Carlos
Dolores
Enrique
Felicia
Guillermo
Hilda
Ignacio
Jimena
Kevin
Linda
Marty
Nora
Olaf
Patricia
Rick
Sandra
Terry
Vivian
Waldo
Xina
York
Zelda |
Agatha
Blas
Celia
Darby
Estelle
Frank
Georgette
Howard
Isis
Javier
Kay
Lester
Madeline
Newton
Orlene
Paine
Roslyn
Seymour
Tina
Virgil
Winifred
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke |
Adrian
Beatriz
Calvin
Dora
Eugene
Fernanda
Greg
Hilary
Irwin
Jova
Kenneth
Lidia
Max
Norma
Otis
Pilar
Ramon
Selma
Todd
Veronica
Wiley
Xina
York
Zelda |
Aletta
Bud
Carlotta
Daniel
Emilia
Fabio
Gilma
Hector
Ileana
John
Kristy
Lane
Miriam
Norman
Olivia
Paul
Rosa
Sergio
Tara
Vicente
Willa
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke |
Alvin
Barbara
Cosme
Dalila
Erick
Flossie
Gil
Henriette
Ivo
Juliette
Kiko
Lorena
Manuel
Narda
Octave
Priscilla
Raymond
Sonia
Tico
Velma
Wallis
Xina
York
Zelda |
Amanda
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan
Iselle
Julio
Karina
Lowell
Marie
Norbert
Odile
Polo
Rachel
Simon
Trudy
Vance
Winnie
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke
|
These lists are also re-cycled every six years (the 2008 list will be used again in 2014).
___________________________________________________________________
Central North Pacific Names |
List 1 |
List 2 |
List 3 |
List 4 |
Akoni
Ema
Hana
Io
Keli
Lala
Moke
Nele
Oka
Peke
Uleki
Wila |
Aka
Ekeka
Hali
Iolana
Keoni
Li
Mele
Nona
Oliwa
Paka
Upana
Wene |
Alika
Ele
Huko
Ioke
Kika
Lana
Maka
Neki
Oleka
Peni
Ulia
Wali |
Ana
Ela
Halola
Iune
Kimo
Loke
Malia
Niala
Oko
Pali
Ulika
Walaka |
The names are used one after the other. When the bottom of one list is reached, the next name is the top of the next list.
___________________________________________________________________
Western North Pacific and the South China Sea Names (as of 2008)
|
Contributor |
I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
Cambodia
China
DPR Korea
HK, China
Japan
Lao PDR
Macau
Malaysia
Micronesia
Philippines
RO Korea
Thailand
U.S.A.
Vietnam
Cambodia
China
DPR Korea
HK, China
Japan
Lao PDR
Macau
Malaysia
Micronesia
Philippines
RO Korea
Thailand
U.S.A.
Vietnam |
Damrey
Haikui
Kirogi
Kai-Tak
Tembin
Bolaven
Sanba
Jelawat
Ewiniar
Malaksi
Gaemi
Prapiroon
Maria
Son-Tinh
Bopha
Wukong
Sonamu
Shanshan
Yagi
Leepi
Bebinca
Rumbia
Soulik
Cimaron
Jebi
Mangkhut
Utor
Trami
|
Kong-rey
Yutu
Toraji
Man-yi
Usagi
Pabuk
Wutip
Sepat
Fitow
Danas
Nari
Wipha
Francisco
Lekima
Krosa
Haiyan
Podul
Lingling
Kaziki
Faxai
Peipah
Tapah
Mitag
Hagibis
Neoguri
Rammasun
Matmo
Halong |
Nakri
Fengshen
Kalmaegi
Fung-wong
Kanmuri
Phanfone
Vongfong
Nuri
Sinlaku
Hagupit
Jangmi
Mekkhala
Higos
Bavi
Maysak
Haishen
Noul
Dolphin
Kujira
Chan-hom
Linfa
Nangka
Soudelor
Molave
Goni
Morakot
Etau
Vamco |
Krovanh
Dujuan
Mujigae
Choi-wan
Koppu
Ketsana
Parma
Melor
Nepartak
Lupit
Mirinae
Nida
Omais
Conson
Chanthu
Dianmu
Mindulle
Lionrock
Kompasu
Namtheun
Malou
Meranti
Fanapi
Malakas
Megi
Chaba
Aere
Songda |
Sarika
Haima
Meari
Ma-on
Tokage
Nock-ten
Muifa
Merbok
Nanmadol
Talas
Noru
Kulap
Roke
Sonca
Nesat
Haitang
Nalgae
Banyan
Washi
Pakhar
Sanvu
Mawar
Guchol
Talim
Doksuri
Khanun
Vicente
Saola |
RSMC Tokyo – Typhoon Center will assign a tropical cyclone a name from the list followed by a 4-digit identification number (in brackets). Names on the list will only be given to tropical cyclones of tropical storm strength or above.These names are used sequentially. That is, if the last storm of the year is Cimaron, the first storm of the next year is Jebi.
___________________________________________________________________
Australian TCWC's Area of Responsibility (as of 2008) |
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
PQ
R
S
T
UV
WXYZ
|
Anika
Billy
Charlotte
Dominic
Ellie
Freddy
Gabrielle
Hamish
Ilsa
Jasper
Kirrily
Laurence
Magda
Neville
Olga
Paul
Robyn
Sean
Tasha
Vince
Zelia |
Anthony
Bianca
Carlos
Dianne
Errol
Fina
Grant
Heidi
Iggy
Jasmine
Koji
Lua
Mitchell
Narelle
Oswald
Peta
Rusty
Sandra
Tim
Victoria
Zane
|
Alessia
Bruce
Dylan
Edna
Fletcher
Gillian
Hadi
Ita
Jack
Kate
Lam
Marcia
Nathan
Olwyn
Quang
Raquel
Stan
Tatjana
Uriah
Yvette |
Alfred
Blanche
Caleb
Debbie
Ernie
Frances
Greg
Hilda
Ira
Joyce
Kelvin
Linda
Marcus
Nora
Owen
Penny
Riley
Savannah
Trevor
Veronica
Wallace
|
Ann
Blake
Claudia
Damien
Esther
Ferdinand
Gretel
Harold
Imogen
Joshua
Kimi
Lucas
Marian
Noah
Odette
Paddy
Ruby
Seth
Tiffany
Verdun |
Note: The single list of names that are used by all of the Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWC) was introduced for the start of the 2008/09 season, replacing the three lists that existed previously.
The name of a new tropical cyclone is usually selected from this list of names. If a named cyclone moves into the Australian region from another country's zone of responsibility, the name assigned by that other country will be retained. The names are normally chosen in sequence, when the list is exhausted, we return to the start of the list.
___________________________________________________________________
RSMC Nadi's Area of Responsibility (as of 2008)
|
List A |
List B |
List C |
List D |
List E
(Standby) |
Ana
Bina
Cody
Dovi
Eva
Fili
Gina
Hagar
Irene
Judy
Kerry
Lola
Mal
Nat
Olof
Pita
Rae
Sheila
Tam
Urmil
Vaianu
Wati
Xavier
Yani
Zita |
Arthur
Becky
Chip
Denia
Elisa
Fotu
Glen
Hettie
Innis
Joni
Ken
Lin
Mick
Nisha
Oli
Pat
Rene
Sarah
Tomas
Vania
Wilma
Yasi
Zaka |
Atu
Bune
Cyril
Daphne
Evan
Freda
Garry
Heley
Ian
June
Kofi
Lusi
Mike
Nute
Odile
Pam
Reuben
Solo
Tuni
Ula
Victor
Winston
Yalo
Zena |
Amos
Bart
Colin
Donna
Ella
Frank
Gita
Hali
Iris
Jo
Kala
Leo
Mona
Neil
Oma
Pami
Rita
Sarai
Tino
Vicky
Wiki
Yolande
Zazu |
Alvin
Bela
Cook
Dean
Eden
Florin
Garth
Hart
Isa
Julie
Kelvin
Louise
Moses
Niko
Opeti
Pearl
Rex
Suki
Troy
Vanessa
Wano
Yvonne
Zidane
Saga
Lea
Kamu
Pena
Elia
|
Lists A, B, C, and D are used sequentially one after the other. The first name in any given year is the one immediately following the last name from the previous year. List E is a list of replacement names if they become necessary. Wellington TCWC will name the cyclone, in consultation with RSMC Nadi, by using the next
name from RSMC Nadi's list, if a tropical cyclone in the Wellington TCWC's area of
responsibility, Wellington.
____________________________________________________________________
Port Moresby TCWC's Area of Responsibility (as of 2008)
|
List A
|
List B
(Standby)
|
|
|
Alu
Buri
Dodo
Emau
Fere
Hibu
Ila
Kama
Lobu
Maila |
Nou
Obaha
Paia
Ranu
Sabi
Tau
Ume
Vali
Wau
Auram |
|
|
Lists A and B are used sequentially one after the other. The first name in any given year is the one immediately following the last name from the previous year.
___________________________________________________________________
Jakarta TCWc's Area of Responsibility |
List A
|
List B
(Standby)
|
|
|
Anggrek
Bakung
Cempaka
Dahlia
Flamboyan
Kenanga
Lili
Mawar
Seroja
Teratai |
Anggur
Belimbing
Duku
Jambu
Lengkeng
Mangga
Nangka
Pisang
Rambuta
Sawo |
|
|
The name of a new tropical cyclone is determined by sequential cycling through List A. Standby List B is used to replace retired names in List A and any replacement will be added to the bottom of List A to maintain the alphabetical order.
___________________________________________________________________
Northern Indian Ocean Names (as of 2008) |
List 1 |
List 2 |
List 3 |
List 4 |
Onil
Agni
Hibaru
Pyarr
Baaz
Fanoos
Mala
Mukda |
Ogni
Akash
Gonu
Yemyin
Sidr
Nargis
Rashmi
Khai Muk |
Nisha
Bijli
Aila
Phyan
Ward
Laila
Bandu
Phet
|
Giri
Jal
Keila
Thane
Murjan
Nilam
Mahasen
Phailin |
List 5 |
List 6 |
List 7 |
List 8 |
Helen
Lehar
Madi
Nanauk
Hudhud
Nilofar
Priya
Komen |
Chapala
Megh
Roanu
Kyant
Nada
Vardah
Asiri
Mora |
Ockhi
Sagar
Mekunu
Daye
Luban
Titli
Gigum
Phethai |
Fani
Vayu
Hikaa
Kyarr
Maha
Bulbul
Soba
Amphan |
The RSMC tropical
cyclones New Delhi will give a tropical cyclone an identification name from the above name list.
The identification system covers both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
___________________________________________________________________
Southwest Indian Ocean Names (as of 2008) |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
Anita
Bondo
Clovis
Dora
Enok
Favio
Gamede
Humba
Indlala
Jaya
Katse
Lisebo
Magoma
Newa
Olipa
Panda
Quincy
Rabeca
Shyra
Tsholo
Unokubi
Vuyane
Warura
Xylo
Yone
Zouleha |
Ariel
Bongwe
Celina
Dama
Elnus
Fame
Gula
Hondo
Ivan
Jokwe
Kamba
Lola
Marabe
Nungu
Ofelia
Pulane
Qoli
Rossana
Sama
Tuma
Uzale
Vongai
Warona
Xina
Yamba
Zefa |
ASMA
BERNARD
CINDA
DONGO
ERIC
FANELE
GAEL
HINA
IZILDA
JADE
KAGO
LISEBO
MAGOMA
NEWA
OWAMI
PULANE
QOLI
RUTE
SAMA
TSHOLO
UZALE
VIMBAI
WADA
XYLO
YAMBA
ZITA
|
|
soon
|
These lists are used sequentially, and they are not rotated every few years as are the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific lists.
___________________________________________________________________
|
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