A record hurricane season exhausts the alphabet
With a historic number of named storms, forecasters ran out of names and turned to the Greek alphabet.
The Atlantic hurricane season reached a historic milestone this year, producing so many storms that forecasters exhausted their standard list of names and were forced to turn to the Greek alphabet, underscoring an extraordinarily active and destructive season.
The season shattered the record for the number of named storms, with activity beginning early and continuing relentlessly through the autumn. Storm after storm formed in the warm waters of the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, battering the coasts of Central America and the United States, with Louisiana struck multiple times.
Running out of names is rare — it had happened only once before — and reflects the sheer number of systems the season generated. Each named storm represents a tropical storm or hurricane strong enough to pose a threat, and the relentless pace strained emergency responders and exhausted communities.
Scientists point to a confluence of factors behind such busy seasons, including warm ocean temperatures and favourable atmospheric conditions, and they continue to study how climate change is influencing the intensity and rainfall of tropical storms.
The record season was a stark illustration of the growing risks facing coastal regions. In its aftermath, the practice of using the Greek alphabet was later retired in favour of a supplemental list of names, but the season itself stood as a benchmark of just how active the Atlantic can become.