We should expect another few names to be retired by the end of 2018 too.
The World Meteorological Organisation committee has officially confirmed the addition of four new names to its Atlantic tropical storm list: Harold, Idalia, Margot and Nigel.
Storm Nigel might not sound very threatening, but if it’s making this list then it will definitely pack a punch.
Also confirmed by the WMO on Thursday was the retirement of the names Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate, all of which were replaced due to their deadly and/or costly impact during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane season.
In total, there are six official storm lists with each one being used on rotation, which means that the latest names will first be used in 2023.
Tropical cyclone names are only removed if they reach such a level of severity that any future usage might be seen as inappropriate or insensitive.
While 2017’s season proved to be devastating, forecasts from Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project expect that the 2018 season will only be slightly less disastrous as the group have stated a total of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major ones are likely to occur.
The full 2018 list is as follows:
- Alberto
- Beryl
- Chris
- Debby
- Ernesto
- Florence
- Gordon
- Helene
- Isaac
- Joyce
- Kirk
- Leslie
- Michael
- Nadine
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony
- Valerie
- William
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