It looks like another I name will bite the dust.

[HurricaneRyan]

With Irene predicted to be a rather incredible event not seen in decades, or even the lifetimes of MANY Weather Channel Meteorologists, there is a chance Irene will do enough damage to warrant retirement. If that happens, it will be the Seventh "I" name to be retired since 1995, and the 9th "I" name overall, and it will tie with the letter "C" for the letter with the most retired names. Also, if Irene gets retired, Isaac will be the only original "I" name left...and strangely enough...the name Florence, on the SAME list, is the only original "F" name left, so we have a chance for a name list where there are TWO letters representing the only originals left for it.

Prior to the Active Period that began in 1995, there were only TWO retired I names - Ione in 1955 and Inez in 1966. After the active period began, we started seeing names from later in the alphabet getting retired, but it wasn't until 2001 that the "I" names started going. From 2001 - 2004, EVERY "I" name from those four seasons became storms that got the names retired - Iris, Isidore, Isabel and Ivan. Irene and Isaac were the only two original I names left in the game after that, and they managed to save themselves from getting retired during 2005 and 2006, as Irene appeared again for a fifth (and possibly final) time on the third list of Atlantic Hurricane Names for 2011. Isaac with also be going into his fifth time on the fourth list in 2012. In 2000, he made it to Category 4 strength but stayed out to sea. We will not know what he will have in store for us next year, but it's possible he will be the last original "I" name if Irene manages to cause as bad destruction as it's predicted to do.

The replacements names have also gotten the chopping block, as we had Hurricanes Ike and Igor do some major butt-kicking in 2008 and 2010, with Ike being the third costliest hurricane in US history, and Igor being the most destructive hurricane to hit Newfoundland. They were both retired and replaced with Isaias and Ian. Ida however didn't really do anything and is still on board for 2015 and Ingrid was the only system to not become a Hurricane.

It's unclear what will happen after Irene, but we are clearly in a reign of Dangerous I Storms.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

The letter "I", hard to distinguish from the number "1". A fitting application for "retired" hurricanes, as 1 is at the core of every other number and many physics concepts can be generalized to equal 1.

Perhaps it is Mother Nature's way of saying I hurricanes are 1 and only.
-WLD

[NFLnut]

I for one, am getting pretty tired of the hyperbole from the Weather Channel folks. "Worst weather event of our lifetime?" Puh-leaze! While I fear for those in the path while it's a cat 3 or 2, just because it may hit NYC they're foaming at the mouth!

[bexar]

I think Irene is being overhyped by the media and some even dubbed it as the possible "storm of the century"

Looks more like it is weakening earlier than expected.

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Should Irene be retired, I guess Isolde will be a good replacement name

[Cleveland Kent Evans]

I think Irene is being overhyped by the media and some even dubbed it as the possible "storm of the century"

Should Irene be retired, I guess Isolde will be a good replacement name

I would prefer Ivy or Irma myself.

"I" and "F" are the hardest letters to find good replacement names for in the first half of the alphabet. So it's a bit unfortunate that those letters are the ones that have had to be replaced so often.

[HurricaneRyan]

I think Irene is being overhyped by the media and some even dubbed it as the possible "storm of the century"

Should Irene be retired, I guess Isolde will be a good replacement name

I would prefer Ivy or Irma myself.

"I" and "F" are the hardest letters to find good replacement names for in the first half of the alphabet. So it's a bit unfortunate that those letters are the ones that have had to be replaced so often.

I names aren't as hard.

Izzy
Ivonne
Ivette
Irma
Ivy

Ina

so forth.

[CrazyC83]

Isaac will be the only original I name from the 1979 name lists left. And he comes up next year...

[MetroMike]

I thought there had to to be major loss of lives to get a Hurricane name retired?

[Meteorcane]

I thought there had to to be major loss of lives to get a Hurricane name retired?

Large monetary damage will do the trick as well.

[Aslkahuna]

Irma is an old WPAC name and Irmas over there tended to have disagreeable attitudes-one Irma in fact at 884 mb is in the Hall of Fame for 10 lowest pressures.

Steve

[gsytch]

Yes, overhyped and overdone. This is what makes everyone complacent. I live in Tampa Bay, and unless I am convinced there is a threat I do not do a thing. Funny, that has been most years and most storms. So NY is flooding. We flood all the time in our area. It was expected. "Just the facts m'aam" as Joe Friday use to say!

[underthwx]

you have to get people thinking about personal safety.

[Florida1118]

Yes, overhyped and overdone. This is what makes everyone complacent. I live in Tampa Bay, and unless I am convinced there is a threat I do not do a thing. Funny, that has been most years and most storms. So NY is flooding. We flood all the time in our area. It was expected. "Just the facts m'aam" as Joe Friday use to say!

I completely and utterly disagree. It was not Over hyped, sorry they didnt put Irene on the back burner and the doggy of the day wasnt their top story. The coverage of the media helped save lives, as weve "only" had 14 deaths thus far. The I dont do a thing is your own choice, but if your starving in a hurricane dont blame anyone but yourself. And yeah, Tampa floods all the time. But the difference is, we go below flood stage after a day or 2. This is alot different becauseNY isnt flat, flooding will last longer, water is breaching bridges and Dams, and here its more of ponding on roadways. Your whole statement is inncorrect , and quite irresponable imo.

[WeatherLovingDoc]

Irene was a monster sized storm who teased the experts while she lolled around Dominica Republica. As the NHC track was on target the entire time, it suggested an up the entire sea board run which could impact 65 million people.

Given that alone, the vast number of people potentially involved, why would anyone suggest "hype" has occurred because people in authority said take it seriously and move out.

Irene's low pressure and girth superimposed on uncertain timing of impact on storm tide was what made the dangerous storm call remain omnipresent, even when Irene became Category One. Looking backwards, after massive deaths, it's too late for anything but the inevitable retro-scopic blame and finger pointing. Proactivity is more survival of the fittest than no activity. We're not humans known for our brains for no reason after all.

We worked as a nation should. We came together and except for the eighteen dear ones who have died (a number which may well climb due to floods and further accidents), the rest comes down to (massive) monitory loss.

I believe all was called as it needed to be called. No hype, just needed caution given the potential impact on millions of Americans up and down the East coast of the USA. Count me in as a believer in our preparation system on Hurricane Irene.

[Cleveland Kent Evans]

I thought there had to to be major loss of lives to get a Hurricane name retired?

Large monetary damage will do the trick as well.

There isn't any specific criterion used. Any country which is affected by a named storm can ask to have that name retired, and there aren't any rules about just how "bad" the storm has to be before they ask. Whoever is "in charge" among the official meterologists in a country will make the call however they see fit, and they don't even have to be consistent over the years in how they make that determination.

[bexar]

yes, I do think Irene was quite overhyped and exaggerated by the media

however, I still do think she would be retired.

possible replacements?

Ivette
Isolde
Imogene
Ivy
Imelda

[HurricaneRyan]

yes, I do think Irene was quite overhyped and exaggerated by the media

however, I still do think she would be retired.

possible replacements?

Ivette
Isolde
Imogene
Ivy
Imelda

I REALLY love the name Imogene! it would definitely be my first choice. Ivy would be my second. It's possible Ivy could be up for grabs, because it was one of the nominations for replacing Isabel seven years ago. maybe Ivy will finally have a chance for her spotlight.

[CrazyC83]

Isaac (and Florence), 2012 is your chance to clean those letters out.

[WeatherGuesser]

I for one, am getting pretty tired of the hyperbole from the Weather Channel folks.

I'm more than a bit tired of hearing about the channel period. It's just another TV channel. Nothing special and of no authority at all. NHC is the definitive source.