Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were so destructive, their names have been retired

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were so destructive, their names have been retired

By Angela Fritz April 12 at 10:36 AM

The 2017 hurricane season was record-shattering, fueled by abnormally warm ocean water and a particularly conducive weather pattern over the Atlantic. It wasn’t just the most active — it was also the most expensive on record in U.S. history. Although final costs may not be known for years, estimates suggest the tab will run beyond $200 billion.

Four notable storms from the 2017 season bore names that will no longer be used for hurricanes, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Organization: Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate.

Since 1979, the WMO has been using a six-year name rotation. Within a given hurricane season, male and female names alternate, then the following year, the gender ordering is staggered (for example, Ana and Bill one year, Alex and Bonnie the next, etc).

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Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate will join the list of exceptional hurricane names. They will be replaced by Harold, Idalia, Margot and Nigel.

Link to tweet

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/04/12/hurricanes-harvey-irma-maria-and-nate-were-so-destructive-their-names-have-been-retired/

[Sanity Claws]

1. That is a lot in one season

Was Katrina retired from the list back in 2005 or 2006 when it happened?

[Eugene]

2. Yes, Katrina and 4 other names were retired after 2005.

[BigmanPigman]

3. No mention of Hurricane tRump which has been a Cat 5

for 18 months throughout most of the country.