HOUSTON — The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1 and runs through November 30, a time for everyone along the Gulf Coast to keep an eye on the forecast and the tropics. Below are the storm names for 2023 season. The names rotate every six years, so many of these are repeats. Some storm names are retired if they are exceedingly devastating or deadly, as determined by the World Meteorological Organization.
- Arlene
- Bret
- Cindy
- Don
- Emily
- Franklin
- Gert
- Harold
- Idalia
- Jose
- Katia
- Lea
- Margot
- Nigel
- Ophelia
- Philippe
- Rina
- Sean
- Tammy
- Vince
- Whitney
What happens if we run out of storm names?
If there are more named storms in a season than what's on the list above, it will start back over with 'A' and these will be the alternate names.
2023 had a pre-season storm
In May, the National Hurricane Center determined a subtropical storm had formed off the northeast coast of the U.S. in January 2023, making it the first cyclone of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. While that means the next tropical depression will be TD #2, the first named tropical storm will still be Arlene.
Here's the explanation from the NHC.
What is a subtropical storm?
Subtropical storms contain characteristics of tropical and non-tropical systems; they are hybrid in nature. These systems can form over tropical and sub-tropical waters, like the storm from mid-January. These storms often lack symmetry, unlike tropical systems and the strongest winds can spread out very far from the center of the storm. In a tropical system, the most intense winds are concentrated near the center.
