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   You are at NWS Houston/Galveston » Tropical Weather » Tropical Cyclone Names

The Naming of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

The Tropical Prediction Center near Miami, FL, keeps constant watch on oceanic storm - breeding areas for tropical disturbances which may lead to the formation of a hurricane. If a disturbance intensifies into a tropical storm - with rotary circulation and wind speeds above 39 mph - the Center will give the storm a name from one of the lists below. A separate name set is used each year beginning with the first name of the set. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are not included because of scarcity of names beginning with those letters.

The name lists have an international flavor because tropical storms and hurricanes affect other nations and are tracked by the public and weather services of countries other than the United States. Names for these lists are agreed upon by nations involved during international meetings of the World Meteorological Organization.

Additional information on the naming of tropical cyclones can be found at NOAA's Hurricane Research Division's FAQ: Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones website.

2009 Atlantic Storm Season Names
Ana Bill Claudette Danny
Erika Fred Grace Henri
Ida Joaquin Kate Larry
Mindy Nicholas(NIK-o-las) Odette
(o-DET)
Peter
Rose
(re-NAY)
Sam Teresa
(te-REE-sa)
Victor
(CVIC-ter)
Wanda
Additional 2009 Atlantic Storm Season Names (if needed)
Alpha Beta Gamma Delta
Epsilon Zeta Eta Theta
Iota Kappa Lambda Mu
Nu Xi Omikron Pi
Rho Sigma Tau Upsilon
Phi Chi Psi Omega


Names for Upcoming Atlantic Seasons
(with pronunciations)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Alex Arlene Alberto
(al-BAIR-toe)
Andrea Ana
Bonnie Bret Beryl
(BER-ril)
Barry Bertha
(BUR-tha)
Colin Cindy Chris Chantal
(shan-TAHL)
Cristobal
(krees-TOE-bahl)
Danielle
(dan-YELL)
Don Debby Dorian Dolly
Earl Emily Ernesto
(er-NES-toe)
Erin
(AIR-in)
Edouard
(eh-DWARD)
Fiona Franklin Florence Fernand Fay
Gaston Gert Gordon Gabrielle
(ga-bree-EL)
Gonzalo
Hermine
(her-MEEN)
Harvey Helene
(he-LEEN)
Humberto
(oom-BAIR-to)
Hanna
Igor
(e-GOR)
Irene Isaac
(EYE-zak)
Ingrid Isaias
Julia Jose
(ho-ZAY)
Joyce Jerry Josephine
(JO-ze-feen)
Karl Katia
(ka-TEE-ah)
Kirk Karen Kyle
Lisa
(Lee-sa)
Lee Leslie Lorenzo Laura
Matthew Maria
(ma-REE-ah)
Michael
(MIKE-el)
Melissa Marco
Nicole
(ni-COLE)
Nate Nadine
(nay-DEEN)
Nestor Nana
Otto Ophelia
(o-FEEL-ya)
Oscar Olga Omar
Paula Philippe
(fe-leep)
Patty Pablo
(PA-blow)
Paulette
(pa-LOW-ma)
Richard
(RICH-erd)
Rina Rafael
(ra-fa-EL)
Rebekah Rene
(re-NAY)
Shary
(SHA-ree)
Sean Sandy Sebastien
(say-BAS-tyan)
Sally
Tomas
(to-MAS)
Tammy Tony Tanya
(TAHN-ya)
Teddy
Virginie
(vir-JIN-ee)
Vince Valerie Van Vicky
Walter Whitney William Wendy Wilfred


Eastern Pacific Storm Names
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Andres Agatha Adrian Aletta Alvin Armanda
Blanca Blas Beatriz Bud Barbara Boris
Carlos Celia Calvin Carlotta Cosme Christina
Dolores Darby Dora Daniel Dalilia Douglas
Enrique Estelle Eugene Emilia Erick Elida
Felicia Frank Fernanda Fabio Flossie Fausto
Guillermo Georgette Greg Gilma Gil Genevieve
Hilda Howard Hilary Hector Henriette Hernan
Ignacio Isis Irwin Ileana Ivo Iselle
Jimena Javier Jova John Juliette Julio
Kevin Kay Kenneth Kristy Kiko Karina
Linda Lester Lidia Lane Lorena Lowell
Marty Madeline Max Miriam Manuel Marie
Nora Newton Norma Norman Narda Norbert
Olaf Orlene Otis Olivia Octave Odile
Patricia Paine Pilar Paul Priscilla Polo
Rick Roslyn Ramon Rosa Raymond Rachel
Sandra Seymour Selma Sergio Sonia Simon
Terry Tina Todd Tara Tico Trudy
Vivian Virgil Veronica Vincente Velma Vance
Waldo Winifred Wiley Willa Wallis Winnie
Xina Xavier Xina Xavier Xina Xavier
York Yolonda York Yolonda York Yolonda
Zelda Zeke Zelda Zeke Zelda Zeke
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Page last modified: 11-Nov-2009 1600 GMT
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