World Meteorological Organization explains Atlantic hurricane naming process

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) manages the naming of Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes. It maintains six rotating alphabetical lists of 21 names each, swapping male and female names and omitting the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z. Names are retired if a storm proves especially deadly or costly, and a supplemental list replaces the Greek alphabet when the primary list is exhausted. NOAA forecasts a below‑normal 2026 season with 8‑14 named storms, 3‑6 hurricanes and 1‑3 major hurricanes, below the average of 14 named storms.

The new list for 2026 will be used again in 2032 unless any names are retired after the season.