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2026 Hurricane Names Revealed by WMO
29 Mar
Summary
- World Meteorological Organization selects names years in advance.
- Hurricane names are retired if storms are deadly or costly.
- Storms are named alphabetically once reaching 39 mph winds.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Switzerland is responsible for selecting names for tropical storms and hurricanes several years in advance.
These names are chosen based on strict criteria. If a hurricane causes significant damage or fatalities, its name is retired by the WMO and replaced.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, commencing June 1, will utilize a predetermined list of names, starting alphabetically with Arthur.
A tropical storm is officially named when its sustained winds reach 39 mph, escalating to a hurricane status at 74 mph.
Historically, the U.S. began naming hurricanes in 1953 with female names, later incorporating male names by 1979. Names now alternate between genders and are assigned in alphabetical order.
Specific letters like Q, U, X, Y, and Z are excluded due to a lack of suitable names.
Separate naming conventions exist for the Eastern Pacific, Central Pacific, Western Pacific (typhoons), and Australian/Indian Ocean tropical cyclones.
