This is worth a look up for me and interested parties
What has been the Highest alphabetical name used in any year and have they had to go beyond "Z" on any year?
www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml
clue might be here but I cannot see it
(main site has current update position on Katrina)

The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not included because of the scarcity of names beginning with those letters. When a major storm makes landfall and is associated with grave economic impact, the name is retired.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/as.html

That leaves us with 21 names for a season.

I most I have found so far was 14 for a year - Is that right? I don't know, I tried googling the question in various ways. Nada

We tried the same as yourself and did not get
as many as you David
As you say the info is close by, but you need the right keyword combo

Actually X, Y, and Z are used for the Pacific Hurricanes. 2004 the allocated names were Xavier, Yolanda, and Zeke. And names are recycled every 6 years unless, as David states, the hurricane severly impacts a nation. From 1950-2004, 62 hurricanes had their names retired.

Anyway Bestor, to answer your question, no worries. The most hurricanes we have had in a year in the US have been 6...in 1916 and 1985. There were 5 in 1933, and 4 in 1906, 1909, and 1964. Source

Since the storms are named than earlier stage than full-blown hurricane, it is not the numberof hurricanes that matters, but rather the number of named storms.

I don't think Georgia is correct about x, y, and z. The Pacific has its own list of names (the first of this season was Adrian).

World hurricane names from the US National Hurricane Center

Methos, I'll have to disagree with you. No Atlantic or Caribbean storms receive names beginning with Q,U,X,Y, or Z. However because storms in the Northwestern Pacific occur throughout the year, the entire alphabet is used.

And if you'll check out the 2004 Pacific hurricane season you will see that X, Y, and Z names were allocated for storms...although they were unused. You will also see the same on the link you provided above.

Bedstor, I've found more info to help answer your question. If more than 24 tropical cyclones occur, the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta..) will be used. source

Thanks for that Georgia
Only thing you can't do on that link is back track the data (unless its current) but it does give a starting point If you wanted to search more deeply

Ok, here is a site for you:
srh.noaa.gov
It states the same and doubt you will have a fear of that link being outdated any time soon

If over 24 tropical cyclones occur in a year in the Eastern North Pacific, then the Greek alphabet will be used following Zeke or Zelda. (threw that in for Methos )

*****
edited to correct a typo

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgia85,

quote:

Methos, I'll have to disagree with you.

Umm, Georgia, you're agreeing with me. No one (myself included) claimed that Atlantic storms had names starting with those letters or thatPacific storms did not (as a matter of fact, I linked to the same list you did). I was just pointing out that Pacific storms having X, Y, and Z names has nothing to do with Atlantic storms not having them. Perhaps I misunderstoodyour original post, butI took it as a respinse to David's.

Minor point - it's not strictly correct to speak of Pacific hurricanes, that term is ordinarily reserved for the western Atlantic only. Typhoon is prefered for the Pacific. tropical cycloneis appropriate for either.

Methos, there was a breakdown in communication. I read David's comment as if he were saying X,Y,Z (etc) were never used in any hurricane/typhoon/cyclone names. I was pointing out that indeed they are used - although not for Atlantic. I thought the initial post was covering ALL hurricanes/typhoons/cyclones and not just those in the Atlantic.

I agree and, looking back, I think the breakdown ison my end

LOL
Well if nothing else, this post is full of links with excellent reference material. I don't think we'll be needing to look up future hurricane/typhoon/cyclone/tropical storm names for years to come!