Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Beryl caused so much destruction last year that their names are being retired. The World Meteorological Organization officially replaced the names of these 2024 storms on Wednesday. The storms claimed more than 300 lives and caused over $119 billion in damages.
Brianna, Holly, and Miguel will now take their place in the list of names for Atlantic storms. A committee of international meteorologists predetermined the list of names. Retiring the names of killer storms is a regular practice.
The list of retired names is nearing 100. Beryl was the deadliest and most costly of the trio. Its flooding was the most significant in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Retiring hurricane names after devastation
It ranked as the seventh most expensive storm in American history, with damages reaching $78.7 billion, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beryl struck Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane.
But most of the deaths and damage occurred inland in North and South Carolina. Hurricane Milton followed closely after Helene. It brought high winds, flooding, and tornadoes, causing extensive damage primarily in Florida.
Hurricane Helene resulted in significant destruction and disruptions in various communities it passed through. In the Pacific region, the name Jack is replacing a Category 3 storm that killed 29 people in Mexico. This consistent practice of retiring storm names serves a purpose.
It acknowledges the severe impact and loss caused by these natural disasters. It also ensures that the names of the most devastating storms are never used again.
