Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

ON THIS PAGE Saffir-Simpson Scale | Deadliest | Costliest Vulnerable States | Busiest Months | 2008 Names

THE 2008 SEASON

Ike Underscores Foolishness of Building on Barrier IslandsWhy Ike's Storm Surge Could Devastate GalvestonWhy Ike Could Be Texas' Worst NightmareHurricane History: Texas a Top TargetBusy Year PredictedResources

The Greatest Hurricanes Ever How & Where Hurricanes Form Storm Preparation Hurricane Science News

Hurricanes: Our 5 Worst FearsHow Strong Can a Hurricane Get?Hurricane Evacuations: A Better WayFlying into a Hurricane: First-Hand AccountCalm Eye Fuels Hurricane FerocityForecasters Call for New Hurricane ClassificationBetter Predictions for Hurricanes' Deadly Storm SurgesSuper-Hurricane Threat Extremely LowKey Found to Changes in Hurricane IntensityOld Data Supports Global Warming Link to Stronger HurricanesTHE 2007 SEASON

Forecast for Rest of Season: BusyGovernment Lowers Hurricane ForecastForecasters Predict Fewer HurricanesWhere are All the Hurricanes?Premature Tropical Storm Not Due to Global Warming, Scientists SayForecasters: 'Very Active' 2007 Hurricane SeasonTHE 2006 SEASON

The Pre-Season Forecast: 8 to 10 Hurricanes News from 2006

Man-made Climate Change Causing Stronger HurricanesHurricane Predictions: Can You Trust Them?Hurricanes to Unleash Dormant, Hidden PowerHurricane Alley Heats UpNew Eye on Hurricanes Could Improve ForecastsWarmer Seas Creating Stronger Hurricanes, Study ConfirmsTHE 2005 SEASON

The Season that Wouldn't End

Lots of Lightning in 2005 Hurricanes Baffles ScientistsRare December Hurricane Caps Record YearRecord Hurricane Season Goes Out with a BangA Year of Concern and Reflection

Schemes to Control the Weather Clouded by FailureIncrease in Major Hurricanes Linked to Warmer SeasWilma's Rage Suggests New Hurricane Categories NeededKatrina: The Worst Storm Ever

After Katrina: Many More Hurricanes to ComeKatrina Joins List of Worst Weather DisastersMore News from 2005

Hurricane Center May Run Out of NamesTrees Hold Record of Ancient Hurricane Activity Hurricane's Waves Soared to Nearly 100 FeetSurprise New Technique Improves Hurricane TrackingLike Wolves, Hurricanes Come in Packs History Reveals Hurricane Threat to New York CityVote Calls for Keeping Hurricane 'Line'Related Stories

The Odds of DyingRare Backward HurricaneRare One-Two Tropical PunchBillion Dollar Weather DisastersNatural Disasters: Top 10 U.S. ThreatsGlobal Disaster Deaths and Costs SwellThe Deadly 2004 Hurricane SeasonDisaster Hotspots

Tropical Storm Names

Military weather forecasters began giving women's names to significant storms during WWII, then in 1950 the World Meteorological Organization agreed to an alphabetical naming system, using the military's radio code. The first named Atlantic hurricane was Able in 1950.

Officials soon realized the naming convention would cause problems in the history books if more than one powerful Hurricane Able made landfall. So, in 1953 the organization adopted a rotating series of women's names, planning to retire names of significant storms.

Feminists urged the WMO to add men's names, which was done in 1979. The boy-girl-boy-girl naming convention evolved to include French and Spanish names in the Atlantic system, reflecting the languages of the nations affected by Carribean hurricanes.

Twenty-one names are reserved each year (the letters q, u, x, y and z are not used), and the names are recycled every six years, minus those retired. When a name is retired, the World Meteorological Organization chooses a new name to replace it.

Related Stories:

Hurricane Center May Run Out of Names in 2005 (And They Did)SOURCE: National Hurricane Center Research by Michael Schirber and Robert Roy Britt

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From above ...

... and on the ground

Summary by Category: Hurricanes that Hit U.S. Coast (Texas to Main) from 1900-2004

Deadliest Atlantic-basin Hurricanes (Not updated to include Katrina in 2005)

Costliest U.S. Hurricanes (adjusted for inflation, in year-2000 dollars) (Not updated to include Katrina in 2005)

Direct Hits, 1900-2004

Major Hurricanes (Cat. 3-5) to Hit U.S. Coast (Texas to Main) from 1900-2004

2008 Names

Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Ike Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred