The World Meteorological Organization retired the name Helene due to the catastrophic storm’s impact in 2024.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially retired the name Helene from its Atlantic hurricane name list, following the catastrophic damage and tragic loss of life caused by the storm in 2024.
Helene, along with Beryl and Milton, will be replaced on the rotating list by Brianna, Holly and Miguel. The name John has also been retired from the eastern Pacific basin list and will be replaced by Jake.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on the Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 26, leaving a path of destruction as it moved inland. North Carolina experienced some of the worst impacts from the storm, with widespread wind damage, devastating flooding across the southern Appalachian Mountains and significant storm surge along the coast.
The hurricane caused over 248 fatalities, the majority of which occurred in North Carolina and South Carolina, making it the deadliest hurricane to strike the continental U.S. since Katrina in 2005.
Financially, the toll was staggering. Helene caused an estimated $78.7 billion in damage, ranking it as the seventh-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, adjusted to 2024 values. Communities across the state are still in the process of rebuilding months later, with infrastructure repairs and home restorations ongoing.
The WMO retires the names of particularly deadly and destructive storms to avoid confusion and out of respect for those who suffered losses. This long-standing practice ensures that future storms with the same name will not bring back painful memories for affected communities.
Meteorologists emphasize that naming tropical cyclones is a crucial part of public safety efforts, helping to streamline communication and ensure timely warnings.
Contact Bekah Birdsall at rbirdsall@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
