2024 Cyclone Retirements (Breaking ATLC: Beryl, Helene, Milton; EPAC: John)

[MadaTheConquistador]

We're gonna find out which names are gonna get retired a couple weeks from now, and I think there is a chance that this could be the second time the WMO retires 5 names in one season after 2005, those being Beryl, Debby, Helene, Milton, and Rafael. Beryl, Helene, and Milton are all assured retirement, along with Milton being a one-and-done name as it looked like Mother Nature decided to bring back the newer "M" curse. Canada will very likely request Debby for retirement, as it's the costliest storm in I believe not just Quebec but in Canadian history too. And as for Rafael, it all depends on if Panama and/or Cuba wants to retire the name, as it did cause some landslides, killed 5 people, and around $110 million in Panama (which I believe makes it one of if not the costliest storm in Panama's history, but I could be wrong), and it also did cause a nationwide blackout in Cuba (who has been having a power outage crisis) along with becoming the 9th costliest storm in Cuban history despite not killing anyone, causing just over $1 billion. If Rafael does happen to be retired, it'll be the first storm since Igor in 2010 to get retired despite a single digit death toll. And on the Pacific side, it’s looking like John is gonna get retired too.

[Hurricane2022]

On February 20, 2025, PAGASA announced that the names Aghon, Enteng, Julian, Kristine, Leon, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito would be retired from the naming list, after they all caused over ₱1 billion in damages to the Philippines. They will be replaced on the naming list with Amuyao, Edring, Josefa, Kidul, Lekep, Nanolay, Onos and Puwok respectively. These new names will first be used in the 2028 season.

With a total of eight names, this set a new record of names retired in a single season since the beginning of its current naming system in 2001, surpassing the previous record of five names, held by the 2011 and 2014 seasons.

Retirements in the Filipino Sea

At their 57th Session in February 2025, the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee announced that the names Ewiniar, Yagi, Jebi, Krathon, Trami, Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi and Usagi would be retired from the naming list. The replacement names will be announced in early 2026. This surpassed the previous record for the number of typhoon names retired after a single season – six, held by the 2022 season.

And in the WPAC basin

[Ulf]

Report of the 57th Session of Typhoon Committee:

The Committee noted the email from United Kingdom Met Office for concern about the
name of JEBI and requested Republic of Korea to provide a replacement name.

Jebi just got retired due to the request from the UK Met Office because it means "f*uck" in Serbo-Croatian. Jebi was submitted by South Korea and means barn swallow in Korean.

Similar to how Malakas was retired 2 years ago because it means "wanker" in Greek.

I would have preferred that the 2018 Cat 5 one be retired instead. Better late than never I guess.

With that, the WPAC retires 9 names total for the 2024 season.

We also have replacement names for the 3 retired storms from 2023: Bori replaces Doksuri, Saobien replaces Saola, and Tianma replaces Haikui.

[CrazyC83]

I think the floor for retirement is 2 names (Helene and Milton are pretty much certain). The ceiling is 5 names, I would agree.

[GSBHurricane]

There's speculation that Grenada requested Beryl's retirement earlier this month but I can't find anything other than a tweet to confirm:
https://x.com/LimWeather/status/1897093109001146727

[Category5Kaiju]

So, the 47th WMO Hurricane conference is happening next week, and retirements should be discussed near the last several days of the 4-day-long meeting.

At this point, I think there's a nonzero chance that this may end up as the record-holder for most names retired after a single season for the collective Atlantic/EPAC season.

In the Atlantic, I expect Beryl, Debby, Helene, and Milton to be retired. There's undeniably no good case against any one of them staying. My three top guesses for what the replacement name for each of them may be include (Bethany, Bianca, or Brittany), (Daphne, Daria, or Dorothy), (Haley, Heather, or Heidi), and (Malcolm, Marcus, or Maurice).

I also think Rafael may fit regional definitions of "bad and memorable," and depending on its impacts are interpreted holistically, has a nonzero chance of being retired as well (Rafael is listed as among Cuba's top 10 costliest hurricanes). If Rafael is indeed retired, then my replacement name prediction pool is (Raul, Reynaldo, or Rudolfo).

In the EPAC, I think John has a very high chance of being retired (I've outlined my reasons for this previously on this thread, but basically boils down to cost/fatality count compared with other retired EPAC hurricanes, strength, and prominence during an otherwise uneventful season). My pool for John's replacement is (Jairo, Joel, or Joshua).

[HurricaneRyan]

So, the 47th WMO Hurricane conference is happening next week, and retirements should be discussed near the last several days of the 4-day-long meeting.

At this point, I think there's a nonzero chance that this may end up as the record-holder for most names retired after a single season for the collective Atlantic/EPAC season.

In the Atlantic, I expect Beryl, Debby, Helene, and Milton to be retired. There's undeniably no good case against any one of them staying. My three top guesses for what the replacement name for each of them may be include (Bethany, Bianca, or Brittany), (Daphne, Daria, or Dorothy), (Haley, Heather, or Heidi), and (Malcolm, Marcus, or Maurice).

I also think Rafael may fit regional definitions of "bad and memorable," and depending on its impacts are interpreted holistically, has a nonzero chance of being retired as well (Rafael is listed as among Cuba's top 10 costliest hurricanes). If Rafael is indeed retired, then my replacement name prediction pool is (Raul, Reynaldo, or Rudolfo).

In the EPAC, I think John has a very high chance of being retired (I've outlined my reasons for this previously on this thread, but basically boils down to cost/fatality count compared with other retired EPAC hurricanes, strength, and prominence during an otherwise uneventful season). My pool for John's replacement is (Jairo, Joel, or Joshua).

2005 holds the record for most names retired with five (Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma). 2025 would only tie it with Beryl, Debby, Helene, Milton and Rafael if all five get retired.

[Category5Kaiju]

So, the 47th WMO Hurricane conference is happening next week, and retirements should be discussed near the last several days of the 4-day-long meeting.

At this point, I think there's a nonzero chance that this may end up as the record-holder for most names retired after a single season for the collective Atlantic/EPAC season.

In the Atlantic, I expect Beryl, Debby, Helene, and Milton to be retired. There's undeniably no good case against any one of them staying. My three top guesses for what the replacement name for each of them may be include (Bethany, Bianca, or Brittany), (Daphne, Daria, or Dorothy), (Haley, Heather, or Heidi), and (Malcolm, Marcus, or Maurice).

I also think Rafael may fit regional definitions of "bad and memorable," and depending on its impacts are interpreted holistically, has a nonzero chance of being retired as well (Rafael is listed as among Cuba's top 10 costliest hurricanes). If Rafael is indeed retired, then my replacement name prediction pool is (Raul, Reynaldo, or Rudolfo).

In the EPAC, I think John has a very high chance of being retired (I've outlined my reasons for this previously on this thread, but basically boils down to cost/fatality count compared with other retired EPAC hurricanes, strength, and prominence during an otherwise uneventful season). My pool for John's replacement is (Jairo, Joel, or Joshua).

2005 holds the record for most names retired with five (Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma). 2025 would only tie it with Beryl, Debby, Helene, Milton and Rafael if all five get retired.

Well, but I also was including possible EPAC retirements, and I don't remember if we've ever had a year where 6 or more names from the Atlantic and the EPAC got retired.

[NotAHurricane]

https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-h ... n-and-john

Retirement list is out.
Beryl -> Brianna
Helene -> Holly
Milton -> Miguel

John -> Jake

[Torino]

Beryl, Helene, Milton and John retired. Replacements are Brianna, Holly, Miguel and Jake.

[Category5Kaiju]

Not surprised to see Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John axed.

Funny enough, Miguel is the Spanish form of Michael, so…there’s that.

I guess Debby escaped retirement as the hurricane itself was not closely enough associated with the damages in Canada? Idk, not sure about that

[AJC3]

I guess Debby escaped retirement as the hurricane itself was not closely enough associated with the damages in Canada? Idk, not sure about that

You could always reach out to the CMC and ask them what the reason for their not requesting the name to be retired was. I would imagine, that like NWS/NHC, they're pretty good about replying to inquiries.

https://weather.gc.ca/mainmenu/contact_us_e.html

[CrazyC83]

Not surprised to see Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John axed.

Funny enough, Miguel is the Spanish form of Michael, so…there’s that.

I guess Debby escaped retirement as the hurricane itself was not closely enough associated with the damages in Canada? Idk, not sure about that

That is my guess regarding Debby as well. Also, it was in a more populated area, so the damage total adds up far more quickly than catastrophic east coast damage does.

[GSBHurricane]

Not surprised to see Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John axed.

Funny enough, Miguel is the Spanish form of Michael, so…there’s that.

I guess Debby escaped retirement as the hurricane itself was not closely enough associated with the damages in Canada? Idk, not sure about that

That is my guess regarding Debby as well. Also, it was in a more populated area, so the damage total adds up far more quickly than catastrophic east coast damage does.

Canada was hit hard by disasters this past summer, with the Calgary Hailstorm causing more damage than Debby's remnants and the Jasper Wildfire and Greater Toronto Flash Floods both being billion-dollar disasters (in Canadian dollars). That might have something to do with it: https://livewirecalgary.com/2025/01/13/ ... ss-canada/

[Torino]

I think Debby wasn't retired simply because the system that hit Canada wasn't really Debby anymore.

[HurricaneRyan]

I like Brianna as a replacement. It's nice and modern.
Would have replaced Helene with Heather but maybe that will be saved for Hermine.

Miguel and Jake are interesting choices. Jake is also pretty modern though so good choice

[GSBHurricane]

I think Debby wasn't retired simply because the system that hit Canada wasn't really Debby anymore.

Wasn't that the case with Fiona as well?

[Hurricane2022]

Milton -> Miguel

Hello...
It's Me...

[MadaTheConquistador]

I wasn't expecting Miguel out of all names to replace Milton, as it's the Spanish translation of the name it replaced, Michael, though I prefer it over something like Milo where they take out two letters like they did Katia replacing Katrina. I mean we have three variants of the name Paul on the Atlantic list, those being Paulette, Paula, which are feminine versions of the name Paul, and Pablo, which is its Spanish translation.

But other than that, Brianna, Holly, and Jake are good replacements for Beryl, Helene, and John. Also since Helene was very close to getting named Isaac, let's say in an alternative universe where it gets named Isaac instead, (where either that one disturbance off the coast of the Carolinas did end up becoming Helene, or if the storm that did become Isaac forms earlier and gets named Helene instead), good replacement names would have been Irving, Inigo, Iggy, Ignantz, or Immanuel. (I would have liked to see Inigo because I bet there would be lots of Inigo Montoya memes lol)

[AnnularCane]

I was kind of hoping for Malcolm personally. Not sure why...I guess I must like it.