Some hurricanes are so devastating, their names vanish forever.
Following the catastrophic 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) retired the names Beryl, Helene, and Milton. These storms caused unprecedented destruction, leading to their permanent removal from future naming lists.
Beryl: Striking Southeast Texas on July 8, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record. It left Houston and surrounding regions powerless and resulted in numerous fatalities.
Helene: Making landfall on Florida’s northern Gulf coast on September 26, Hurricane Helene was the deadliest and most damaging of the season. It caused over 200 deaths and inflicted $75 billion in damages across several states.
Milton: Weeks after Helene, Hurricane Milton hit central Florida, contributing to over 40 deaths and $34 billion in damage.
In the Eastern Pacific, the name John was retired following its destructive impact.
Retiring these names honors the victims and prevents future distress from reusing names associated with severe destruction.
