According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), tropical storms are named based on specific regional rules.
Since 1950, storms in the Atlantic Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific) have been named, although there were no specific rules at that time. By 1953, tropical storms began to be named after female names, arranged alphabetically.
In 1978, male names were added to the list and alternated with female names. For example, if the first storm of the year starts with the letter A – Anne, the next storm will start with the letter B – Bernard.
List of Atlantic storm names in 2021. (Image: KOKH).
For the Atlantic region, WMO uses a list of 21 names for naming storms. In total, 6 lists are used alternately over the years. Accordingly, the storm name list from 2019 will be reused in 2025. Notably, storm names do not start with the letters Q, U, X, Y, or Z.
Nations in the North Indian Ocean began using a new system for naming tropical storms in 2020. Storms are listed alphabetically, by country, and are given neutral names.
The general rule is that the list of storm names is proposed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). This list is approved by the corresponding agencies at annual or biennial meetings.
In the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea (including storms making landfall in Vietnam), most storms are named after geographical locations, animals, or plants. Each country is assigned 10 storm names, divided into 5 lists and will rotate annually.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is one of the 6 Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers under the WMO. This center is responsible for forecasting, warning, and naming tropical storms operating in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea.
According to WMO, the international names of storms in Vietnam include: Son Tinh, Co May, Ba Vi, Con Son, Son Ca, Tra Mi, Ha Long, Vam Co, Song Da, Sao La.
Storm Sonca made landfall in the border area between Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces with maximum winds of 75 km/h. The name of this storm was derived from the database prepared by the WMO’s Tropical Cyclone program, according to AccuWeather.com.
A storm forming in the Pacific. (Image: WMO).
“Weather forecasters have a special naming list for storms. Periodically, a name will no longer be used and will be replaced with a new name,” said Jim Andrews, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com.
This list consists of 140 names selected by countries in the region, such as China, Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. There is no limit on the number of names that can be used in a calendar year.
Names on the list are only assigned to tropical cyclones at hurricane level or higher and are taken sequentially from top to bottom. For example, if the last storm of the year is named Cimaron, the first storm of the following year will be named Jebi.
Following this naming method, after storm Sonca, the next storm in the Pacific and South China Sea will be named Nesat.
List of storm names in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea. (Image: WMO).
The Philippines is also one of the countries that provides international storm names. However, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country will use its own list of storm names consisting of 25 names for a tropical cyclone when it enters its monitoring area (Philippine Area of Responsibility – PAR). For instance, when Typhoon Neoguri formed in early July 2014, it was renamed Florita as it entered PAR.
If the list of names for that year is exhausted, storm names will be taken from an additional list of 10 names, and this list will be provided before the storm season begins.
A tropical cyclone in the Northwest Pacific is classified as a typhoon if it has wind speeds ranging from 73-148 km/h. If the storm has wind speeds of 149 km/h or higher, it will be classified as a super typhoon, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).
The naming of storms (tropical cyclones) started many years ago to help quickly identify storms in warning bulletins, as names are considered much easier to remember than using terms and numbers. Many experts agree that giving names to storms helps the media report on tropical cyclones more easily, increasing public awareness of storm warnings and enhancing preparedness when storms approach.
Typhoon Hayan observed from the International Space Station. (Video: YouTube).
Experience shows that using short, distinctive names for storms makes communication quicker and less error-prone compared to the previous method of identifying by longitude and latitude. These advantages are especially important in exchanging information about storms between meteorological stations, coastal facilities, and vessels at sea.
The naming of storms has been in practice for a long time, aimed at helping quickly identify storms in warning announcements. These names make it easier for the public to remember compared to numbers and technical terms.
Many people agree with this view, believing that naming storms will help the media report on them more easily, helping the public pay attention to warnings, thereby enhancing readiness when storms strike.
The use of proper, brief names also facilitates smoother, quicker, and less error-prone communication, whether written or spoken, compared to the cumbersome and difficult-to-remember method of identifying storms by longitude and latitude. These factors create a significant advantage in exchanging detailed information about storms.
The list of storm names will be reused every 6 years. For example, the list of storms from 2023 will be reused for naming storms in 2029.
In the case of Storm Talim, which recently made landfall in our country, this name was proposed by the Philippines.
Each year, the Storm Committee meets once. During the meeting, discussions will focus on countries proposing new names or removing old names from the storm naming list. Countries also have the right to propose removing names assigned by other countries if they feel those names are inappropriate for various reasons.
If a storm causes significant casualties and property damage, its name will be removed from the list and replaced with another name. Some notable storm names removed in this manner include Haiyan (Philippines, 2013), Sandy (USA, 2012), Katrina (USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998), and Tracy (Darwin, 1974).
For example, Vietnam once proposed to remove the name Typhoon Chanchu assigned by South Korea due to the severe consequences caused by the storm when it made landfall in Vietnam in 2006. Conversely, South Korea also proposed to remove the name Typhoon Saomai assigned by Vietnam from the storm name list because this storm also caused serious damage to South Korea in 2006.
For storms that cause serious damage to lives and property, WMO will request member countries to vote on whether to remove the storm’s name to avoid evoking painful memories.
What does Typhoon Yagi mean? Yagi, which means goat or the constellation Capricorn – the tenth zodiac sign of the zodiac circle – in Japanese, is the 11th named storm in 2024. Yagi originated from a low-pressure area formed on August 30, about 540 km northwest of the Republic of Palau (Oceania). On September 1, the storm system was classified as a tropical storm by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and named Yagi. Yagi is the 9th named tropical storm and also the strongest storm this year in the Northwest Pacific region. Yagi holds many recorded records. Specifically, it is the strongest storm in the world (recorded to date) in 2024; the strongest storm to make landfall in the South China Sea in the past 30 years. It is also the storm that intensified the fastest in the history of storms in Vietnam (gaining 4 levels in 8 hours, from level 12 to level 16); the storm with the longest duration of impact on land in Vietnam to date.
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