Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names
By D.J. Myers,
2024-07-26When a baseball player is so iconic, so legendary, so one-of-a-kind that no other player can even imagine wearing their number on their back, the team that they played for bestows upon them the honor of retiring their number. In the same vein, when a hurricane is so powerful that it goes down in history, the NOAA retires its name out of sensitivity to those impacted. These hurricanes all have that dubious distinction.
When we talk about named hurricanes, we’re usually referring to Atlantic hurricanes, even though different organizations have the responsibility of naming hurricanes across the globe. Atlantic hurricanes are named by the Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), who has the system down to a science. They maintain six lists, each with 21 alphabetically-listed names, and go through one list every year. By this math, a name will be reused (at maximum) once every six years.
Every spring, the WMO Hurricane Committee gathers, and (among other points of order) they decide if any of the previous season’s hurricanes were so deadly and powerful that they warrant having their name retired. If a name is indeed retired, it’s replaced with another name that starts with the same letter.
While Atlantic hurricanes are named based on a predetermined list of names established by the World Meteorological Organization, every few years there is a storm so deadly that future use of the name is considered inappropriate and the name is retired. To determine the hurricanes that were so powerful they retired their names, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on hurricane names from the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Atlantic hurricane names that were retired are listed chronologically. Data on maximum sustained wind speed is the NOAA’s historical hurricane tracks shapefile. Data on baby names used to calculate changes in name popularity following a major storm came from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Hurricane season is here, so cross your fingers that none of this season’s cyclones are so powerful that their names are retired. If you happen to find yourself in an area that’s prone to hurricanes, these are the preparation tips you need to know about .
1. Hurricane Carol
- Name retired: 1954
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Carol, 1954-1959: -18.5%
2. Hurricane Edna
- Name retired: 1954
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
- Change in babies named Edna, 1954-1959: -29.8%
3. Hurricane Hazel
- Name retired: 1954
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Hazel, 1954-1959: -43.0%
4. Hurricane Connie
- Name retired: 1955
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Connie, 1955-1960: -11.2%
5. Hurricane Diane
- Name retired: 1955
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
- Change in babies named Diane, 1955-1960: -23.1%
6. Hurricane Ione
- Name retired: 1955
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Ione, 1955-1960: -39.5%
7. Hurricane Janet
- Name retired: 1955
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Janet, 1955-1960: -20.5%
8. Hurricane Audrey
- Name retired: 1957
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
- Change in babies named Audrey, 1957-1962: -23.2%
9. Hurricane Donna
- Name retired: 1960
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Donna, 1960-1965: -42.3%
10. Hurricane Carla
- Name retired: 1961
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Carla, 1961-1966: -22.4%
11. Hurricane Hattie
- Name retired: 1961
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
- Change in babies named Hattie, 1961-1966: -48.2%
12. Hurricane Flora
- Name retired: 1963
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Flora, 1963-1968: -52.9%
13. Hurricane Cleo
- Name retired: 1964
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Cleo, 1964-1969: -42.9%
14. Hurricane Dora
- Name retired: 1964
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Dora, 1964-1969: -40.6%
15. Hurricane Hilda
- Name retired: 1964
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Hilda, 1964-1969: -30.7%
16. Hurricane Betsy
- Name retired: 1965
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Betsy, 1965-1970: -47.2%
17. Hurricane Inez
- Name retired: 1966
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
- Change in babies named Inez, 1966-1971: -18.3%
18. Hurricane Beulah
- Name retired: 1967
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
- Change in babies named Beulah, 1967-1972: -60.0%
19. Hurricane Camille
- Name retired: 1969
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Camille, 1969-1974: -41.2%
20. Hurricane Celia
- Name retired: 1970
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Celia, 1970-1975: -42.3%
21. Hurricane Agnes
- Name retired: 1972
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
- Change in babies named Agnes, 1972-1977: -47.9%
22. Hurricane Carmen
- Name retired: 1974
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Carmen, 1974-1979: -8.3%
23. Hurricane Fifi
- Name retired: 1974
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 109.3 mph
- Change in babies named Fifi, 1974-1979: N/A
24. Hurricane Eloise
- Name retired: 1975
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
- Change in babies named Eloise, 1975-1980: -23.7%
25. Hurricane Anita
- Name retired: 1977
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Anita, 1977-1982: -33.3%
26. Hurricane Greta
- Name retired: 1978
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Greta, 1978-1983: -13.1%
27. Hurricane David
- Name retired: 1979
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named David, 1979-1984: -8.6%
28. Hurricane Frederic
- Name retired: 1979
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Frederic, 1979-1984: -48.4%
29. Hurricane Allen
- Name retired: 1980
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 189.9 mph
- Change in babies named Allen, 1980-1985: -0.9%
30. Hurricane Alicia
- Name retired: 1983
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Alicia, 1983-1988: -10.5%
31. Hurricane Elena
- Name retired: 1985
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
- Change in babies named Elena, 1985-1990: +4.4%
32. Hurricane Gloria
- Name retired: 1985
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Gloria, 1985-1990: +18.4%
33. Hurricane Gilbert
- Name retired: 1988
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
- Change in babies named Gilbert, 1988-1993: -10.0%
34. Hurricane Joan
- Name retired: 1988
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Joan, 1988-1993: -17.7%
35. Hurricane Hugo
- Name retired: 1989
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
- Change in babies named Hugo, 1989-1994: +4.6%
36. Hurricane Diana
- Name retired: 1990
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 97.8 mph
- Change in babies named Diana, 1990-1995: -10.9%
37. Hurricane Klaus
- Name retired: 1990
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
- Change in babies named Klaus, 1990-1995: -40.0%
38. Hurricane Bob
- Name retired: 1991
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Bob, 1991-1996: -53.0%
39. Hurricane Andrew
- Name retired: 1992
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Andrew, 1992-1997: -17.6%
40. Hurricane Luis
- Name retired: 1995
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Luis, 1995-2000: +24.0%
41. Hurricane Marilyn
- Name retired: 1995
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Marilyn, 1995-2000: -9.8%
42. Hurricane Opal
- Name retired: 1995
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Opal, 1995-2000: +60.0%
43. Hurricane Roxanne
- Name retired: 1995
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Roxanne, 1995-2000: -34.0%
44. Hurricane Cesar
- Name retired: 1996
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
- Change in babies named Cesar, 1996-2001: +19.5%
45. Hurricane Fran
- Name retired: 1996
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
- Change in babies named Fran, 1996-2001: N/A
46. Hurricane Hortense
- Name retired: 1996
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Hortense, 1996-2001: N/A
47. Hurricane Georges
- Name retired: 1998
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Georges, 1998-2003: N/A
48. Hurricane Mitch
- Name retired: 1998
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
- Change in babies named Mitch, 1998-2003: -48.3%
49. Hurricane Floyd
- Name retired: 1999
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Floyd, 1999-2004: -2.6%
50. Hurricane Lenny
- Name retired: 1999
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Lenny, 1999-2004: +89.6%
51. Hurricane Keith
- Name retired: 2000
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Keith, 2000-2005: -24.1%
52. Hurricane Allison
- Name retired: 2001
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 57.5 mph
- Change in babies named Allison, 2001-2006: -10.6%
53. Hurricane Iris
- Name retired: 2001
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Iris, 2001-2006: +20.7%
54. Hurricane Michelle
- Name retired: 2001
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Michelle, 2001-2006: -18.8%
55. Hurricane Isidore
- Name retired: 2002
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 126.6 mph
- Change in babies named Isidore, 2002-2007: -10.0%
56. Hurricane Lili
- Name retired: 2002
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Lili, 2002-2007: -22.3%
57. Hurricane Fabian
- Name retired: 2003
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Fabian, 2003-2008: +2.8%
58. Hurricane Isabel
- Name retired: 2003
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
- Change in babies named Isabel, 2003-2008: -9.5%
59. Hurricane Juan
- Name retired: 2003
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 103.6 mph
- Change in babies named Juan, 2003-2008: -10.2%
60. Hurricane Charley
- Name retired: 2004
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Charley, 2004-2009: +53.3%
61. Hurricane Frances
- Name retired: 2004
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Frances, 2004-2009: -18.6%
62. Hurricane Ivan
- Name retired: 2004
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
- Change in babies named Ivan, 2004-2009: -13.8%
63. Hurricane Jeanne
- Name retired: 2004
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
- Change in babies named Jeanne, 2004-2009: -33.8%
64. Hurricane Dennis
- Name retired: 2005
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Dennis, 2005-2010: -30.2%
65. Hurricane Katrina
- Name retired: 2005
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Katrina, 2005-2010: -76.4%
66. Hurricane Rita
Source: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images News via Getty ImagesName retired: 2005
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
- Change in babies named Rita, 2005-2010: -19.6%
67. Hurricane Stan
- Name retired: 2005
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 80.6 mph
- Change in babies named Stan, 2005-2010: +75.0%
68. Hurricane Wilma
- Name retired: 2005
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
- Change in babies named Wilma, 2005-2010: +16.7%
69. Hurricane Dean
- Name retired: 2007
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Dean, 2007-2012: +52.2%
70. Hurricane Felix
- Name retired: 2007
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Felix, 2007-2012: +30.1%
71. Hurricane Noel
- Name retired: 2007
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
- Change in babies named Noel, 2007-2012: -0.1%
72. Hurricane Gustav
- Name retired: 2008
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Gustav, 2008-2013: -44.7%
73. Hurricane Ike
- Name retired: 2008
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Ike, 2008-2013: -21.9%
74. Hurricane Paloma
- Name retired: 2008
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 143.8 mph
- Change in babies named Paloma, 2008-2013: -4.8%
75. Hurricane Igor
- Name retired: 2010
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Igor, 2010-2015: -40.7%
76. Hurricane Tomas
- Name retired: 2010
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Tomas, 2010-2015: -10.9%
77. Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene Nears Landfall. Irene, the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season, was poised on August 26 to be the first to make landfal Elements of this image furnished by NASA. ( Shutterstock.com ) by BEST-BACKGROUNDS- Name retired: 2011
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 120.8 mph
- Change in babies named Irene, 2011-2016: +9.4%
78. Hurricane Sandy
- Name retired: 2012
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Sandy, 2012-2017: -29.6%
79. Hurricane Ingrid
- Name retired: 2013
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 86.3 mph
- Change in babies named Ingrid, 2013-2018: -7.0%
80. Hurricane Erika
- Name retired: 2015
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 51.8 mph
- Change in babies named Erika, 2015-2020: -36.6%
81. Hurricane Joaquin
- Name retired: 2015
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Joaquin, 2015-2020: -0.1%
82. Hurricane Matthew
- Name retired: 2016
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 166.9 mph
- Change in babies named Matthew, 2016-2021: -41.0%
83. Hurricane Otto
- Name retired: 2016
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 115.1 mph
- Change in babies named Otto, 2016-2021: +73.9%
84. Hurricane Harvey
- Name retired: 2017
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 132.3 mph
- Change in babies named Harvey, 2017-2022: -7.2%
85. Hurricane Irma
- Name retired: 2017
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 178.4 mph
- Change in babies named Irma, 2017-2022: -1.4%
86. Hurricane Maria
- Name retired: 2017
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 172.6 mph
- Change in babies named Maria, 2017-2022: +4.4%
87. Hurricane Nate
- Name retired: 2017
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 92.1 mph
- Change in babies named Nate, 2017-2022: +30.1%
88. Hurricane Florence
- Name retired: 2018
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Florence, 2018-2023: +113.2%
89. Hurricane Michael
- Name retired: 2018
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
- Change in babies named Michael, 2018-2023: -28.5%
90. Hurricane Dorian
- Name retired: 2019
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 184.1 mph
- Change in babies named Dorian, 2019-2023: -16.9%
91. Hurricane Eta
- Name retired: 2020
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Eta, 2020-2023: N/A
92. Hurricane Iota
- Name retired: 2020
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 155.4 mph
- Change in babies named Iota, 2020-2023: N/A
93. Hurricane Laura
- Name retired: 2020
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Laura, 2020-2023: -3.6%
94. Hurricane Ida
- Name retired: 2021
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 149.6 mph
- Change in babies named Ida, 2021-2023: -10.4%
95. Hurricane Fiona
- Name retired: 2022
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 138.1 mph
- Change in babies named Fiona, 2022-2023: -13.3%
96. Hurricane Ian
- Name retired: 2022
- Maximum sustained wind speed: 161.1 mph
- Change in babies named Ian, 2022-2023: +1.0%
The post Hurricanes That Were So Powerful They Retired Their Names appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .
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