These names could be remembered for all the wrong reasons
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The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season starts Sunday, and there's a new list of storm names.
Why it matters: A single name on this list could define the season if it's tied to a major disaster.
The big picture: The World Meteorological Organization picks the names, which are based on "their familiarity to people" in the region.
- The lists are reused every six years, with this batch last used in 2019.
- Dexter is a new addition this year, replacing Dorian, which was retired after the 2019 storm that devastated the Bahamas.
- Systems are named when they strengthen to at least a tropical storm.
The names are:
- Andrea
- Barry
- Chantal
- Dexter
- Erin
- Fernand
- Gabrielle
- Humberto
- Imelda
- Jerry
- Karen
- Lorenzo
- Melissa
- Nestor
- Olga
- Pablo
- Rebekah
- Sebastien
- Tanya
- Van
- Wendy

Between the lines: If all the names are used, WMO uses a supplemental list.
- It previously used the Greek alphabet, but they ended that practice after confusion during the 2020 season.
- Names are retired if they are associated with a particularly deadly or costly storm. For instance, the names Beryl, Milton and Helene were retired after the 2024 hurricane season.
Flashback: Storms weren't named until 1953. Before then, they were tracked by the year and order they occurred that year, according to NOAA.
- At first, only female names were used.
- In 1979, male names were added to the mix for storms in the Atlantic basin.
What's next: Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through Nov. 30, but storms can form any time.
- NHC began its daily tropical outlook May 15, and so far all has been quiet in the Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic.
- Historically, the most active period for strong storms in the Gulf and the Atlantic is August and September.
Go deeper
- Leadership shakeup at FEMA raises alarms in Louisiana
- What's new from NOAA this hurricane season
- FEMA cuts could devastate Louisiana
- Hurricane bingo card
- NOAA warns of heightened hurricane season while Trump eyes disaster response cuts
- New Orleans leaders say city is ready for hurricane season, 20 years after Katrina
