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Meteorological organization retires Helene, two other hurricane names

Photos show the French Broad River intake on dry land and submerged by at least 12 feet of floodwaters during Hurricane Helene on Friday, Sept. 27. In the photo on the left, the 500-year flood level is where the bricks start. The image on right was snapped before flooding submerged the city’s camera. The raw water intake, a backup source that’s expected to be operational by this fall, is about 300 yards downstream of the Mills River confluence. [CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE]

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 4, 2025

The Hurricane Committee of the World Meteorological Organization has retired the names Helene, Beryl and Milton from its Atlantic basin name list and John from the eastern Pacific basin name list because of the death and destruction these storms caused in 2024, the forecasting organization announced.
Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Atlantic basin Category-5 hurricane on record, with major impacts in the Caribbean. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused catastrophic damage in the United States. Hurricane John triggered deadly and extended flooding in the Mexican state of Guerrero.
The names Brianna, Holly and Miguel were selected as replacements in the Atlantic basin and Jake in the eastern Pacific. The lists of names, which are overseen by WMO, help in the communication of storm warnings and to alert people about potentially life-threatening risks. The names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly that its name is retired.