The 2018 Hurricane Helene stands out as a Category 2 Atlantic tropical cyclone that nearly reached Europe, impacting countries like Portugal, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. It was notable for being the eighth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the second major hurricane following the devastating Hurricane Florence during the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. Originating from an African easterly wave, Helene rapidly intensified to Category 3 over the warm Atlantic waters but weakened as it approached Europe due to cooler ocean temperatures and increased wind shear.
Helene brought floods and material damage to Senegal and Cape Verde, and passed through the Azores as a tropical storm, causing minimal destruction. In the Iberian Peninsula, the effects were limited to strong winds and waves up to 4 meters high, while the UK and Ireland experienced winds of up to 90 km/h and heavy rainfall before Helene dissipated over Ireland.
Why Do Hurricanes Share the Same Name?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), based in Geneva, is responsible for naming hurricanes. They follow a strict process to assign names, creating annual lists for the Atlantic and Pacific. The Atlantic list includes 21 alternating male and female names, which are recycled every six years. This list can be found on the NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory website. The Pacific basin follows a similar system with a list of 24 names.
Each new storm is given the next name on the list, repeating the cycle once completed. However, if a storm causes significant loss of life or property damage, any affected country can request that its name be permanently retired to avoid confusion with a historically significant cyclone in the Atlantic basin. Notable examples include the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Irma in 2017. Sometimes names are retired for cultural or political reasons.
Will Helene Be Retired?
Given the significant impact of the two hurricanes named Helene, there is a possibility that the name could be retired from future lists. If the most recent Helene were to cause severe damage, potentially reaching the catastrophic Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, it would increase the likelihood of the name being permanently removed.