So here are two fully objective lists of the deadliest and costliest storms worldwide that bear each letter. (In cases where the most impactful storm is outside the Atlantic, I've also included the Atlantic runner-up.)
Caveat: Even though they're objective in terms of absolute numbers -- number of people died, and monetary cost in USD -- their relative impacts on each country and territory vary: The same cost of $1 billion or death of 30 people have different meanings to a small Caribbean nation vs. the US. Also, I didn't do any inflation adjustment for convenience, and all monetary costs are in the year in which the storm occurred.
Costliest storms of each letter
All costs are in billions of nominal USD. Only formal names are counted: in particular, storms named after geographical regions are excluded.
A - Andrew, NATL 1992 ($27.3 billion)
B - Beryl, NATL 2024 ($8.32 billion)
C - Charley, NATL 2004 ($16.9 billion)
D - Doksuri, WPAC 2023 ($28.6 billion) | Dorian, NATL 2019 ($5.1 billion)
E - Etau, WPAC 2009 ($1.44 billion) | Elena, NATL 1985 ($1.3 billion)
F - Florence, NATL 2018 ($24.2 billion)
G - Georges, NATL 1998 ($9.37 billion)
H - Harvey, NATL 2017 ($125 billion)
I - Ian, NATL 2022 ($112 billion)
J - Jebi, WPAC 2018 ($13 billion) | Jeanne, NATL 2004 ($7.94 billion)
K - Katrina, NATL 2005 ($125 billion)
L - Laura, NATL 2020 ($23.3 billion)
M - Maria, NATL 2017 ($91.6 billion)
N - Nargis, NIO 2008 ($15.3 billion) | Nicholas, NATL 2021 ($1.1 billion)
O - Otis, EPAC 2023 ($12 - 16 billion) | Opal, NATL 1995 ($4.7 billion)
P - Prapiroon, WPAC 2000 ($6.14 billion) | Paloma, NATL 2008 ($0.455 billion)
Q - Qendresa, MED 2014 ($0.25 billion)
R - Rita, NATL 2005 ($18.5 billion)
S - Sandy, NATL 2012 ($68.7 billion)
T - Tokage, WPAC 2004 ($7.11 billion) | Tomas, NATL 2010 ($0.463 billion)
U - Usagi, WPAC 2013 ($4.32 billion)
V - Vardah, NIO 2016 ($3.38 billion) | Vince, NATL 2005 (minimal)
W - Wilma, NATL 2005 ($26.5 billion)
X - Xangsane, WPAC 2006 ($0.75 billion)
Y - Yagi, WPAC 2024 ($14.7 billion)
Z - Zeke, WPAC 1991 ($0.96 billion)
Greek - Eta, NATL 2020 ($7.24 billion)
Deadliest storms of each letter
Direct and indirect deaths combined. Do not consider any disputes. WPAC death estimates in the mid-20th century are highly unreliable.
Only formal names are counted: in particular, storms referred to after geographical regions are excluded. Cross-basin storms (Fifi-Orlene 1974, Leon-Eline 2000) use a single name that was likely associated with the greatest damage. Philippines names are only used if the system was not named by JMA/JTWC (in practice, none made the list).
A - Agnes, WPAC 1984 (1,029 deaths) | Audrey, NATL 1957 (416 deaths)
B - Bopha, WPAC 2012 (1,901 deaths) | Bret, NATL 1993 (213 deaths)
C - Cecil, WPAC 1985 (770 deaths) | Charlie, NATL 1951 (409 deaths)
D - Daniel, MED 2023 (>= 5,951 deaths) | David, NATL 1979 (2,068 deaths)
E - Ellen, WPAC 1959 (~ 711 deaths); Eline, SWIO 2000 (114 - 722 deaths) | Earl, NATL 2016 (94 deaths)
F - Fifi, NATL 1974 (8,210 deaths)
G - Gordon, NATL 1994 (1,152 deaths)
H - Harriet, WPAC/NIO 1962 (50,935 deaths) | Hazel, NATL 1954 (592 - 1,192 deaths)
I - Ida, WPAC 1945 (2,473 deaths) | Inez, NATL 1966 (1,269 deaths)
J - Joan, WPAC 1964 (~ 7,000 deaths) | Jeanne, NATL 2004 (3,037 deaths)
K - Katrina, NATL 2005 (1,392 deaths)
L - Linda, WPAC/NIO 1997 (3,275 deaths) (not EPAC 1997) | Laura, NATL 2020 (81 deaths)
M - Mitch, NATL 1998 (11,374 deaths)
N - Nargis, NIO 2008 (138,373 deaths) | Noel, NATL 2007 (222 deaths)
O - Olive, WPAC 1960 (>= 404 deaths) | Opal, NATL 1995 (77 deaths)
P - Paul, EPAC 1982 (1,625 deaths) | Philippe, NATL 2017 (5 deaths)
Q - Querida, WPAC 1946 (154 deaths)
R - Ruby, WPAC 1964 (>= 758 deaths) | Rita, NATL 2005 (120 deaths)
S - Sidr, NIO 2007 (3,447 - 15,000 deaths) | Stan, NATL 2005 (1,673 deaths)
T - Thelma, WPAC 1991 (5,081 deaths) | Tomas, NATL 2010 (51 deaths)
U - Utor, WPAC 2001 (203 deaths)
V - Viola, WPAC 1969 (10,039 deaths) | Vicky, NATL 2020 (1 death)
W - Wanda, WPAC 1956 (4,935 deaths) | Wilma, NATL 2005 (48 deaths)
X - Xangsane, WPAC 2006 (>= 312 deaths)
Y - Yagi, WPAC 2024 (844 - 1,009 deaths); Yemyin, NIO 2007 (983 deaths)
Z - Zita, WPAC 1997 (352 deaths)
Greek - Eta, NATL 2020 (189 deaths)
Observations:
- North Atlantic dominates in monetary costs (largely thanks to the US economy and lack of inflation adjustment).
- However, other basins are often far deadlier than North Atlantic. The number of TCs with hundreds and even thousands of deaths in the WPAC and Indian Ocean is simply heart-breaking, even during relatively recent times (e.g. Nargis 2008).
- Every letter has a storm with at least 100 deaths.
- Other than Q, X and Z, every letter has a storm that cost at least $1 billion in nominal USD.
- Curiously, E storms have generally been less destructive -- not just in the Atlantic, but also globally.
- The fewest number of deaths on the list is 1: Vicky 2020, as the only one of the 3 Atlantic V storms with a known (indirect) fatality. Similarly, Vince 2005 is on the list for being the only Atlantic V storm that has caused some damage over land, even though its cost is not even known.
- Doksuri 2023 in the WPAC is not just the costliest D storm, but also the costliest tropical cyclone outside North Atlantic (without inflation adjustment). Its monetary damage was mostly from mainland China. The second costliest TC outside the Atlantic is Medicane Daniel in the same year, which is also one of the deadliest TCs worldwide and the deadliest D storm.