Dear Tom,
Which 2005 hurricanes will have their names retired?
Phil Gravel
Dear Phil,
We won’t officially know the answer to this question until the winter meetings of the World Meteorological Organization are held next year, but the incredible 2005 hurricane season may yet add another record to its already-long list. Infamous storms are retired based largely on the number of deaths and the amount of damage they caused. At least five 2005 storms appear to be prime candidates for name retirement. They are hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma. If all five names are retired, it will be the most ever for one season.
Previously three seasons had four names retired: Connie, Diane, Ione and Janet in 1955; Luis, Marilyn, Opal and Roxanne in 1995; and of course, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Dennis Haller, Steve Kahn, plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
