[Names of storms]
"Atlantic Storms 1996-2001"

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) near Miami, Florida, keeps a constant watch on oceanic storm-breeding areas for tropical disturbances which may herald the formation of a hurricane. If a disturbance intensifies into a tropical storm with rotatory circulation and wind speeds about 39 miles per hour, NHC will give the storm a name from one of the six lists below. A separate set is used each year beginning with the first name in the set. Once a set of names has been used for a season, that list will not be used again for another six years. The 1996 set, for example, will be used again to name storms in the year 2002. 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.

The name lists have an international flavor because hurricanes affect many nations and are tracked by the public and weather services of countries other than the United States. Names for these lists are selected from library sources and agreed upon by nations involved during international meetings of the World Meteorological Organization.

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Arthur Ana Alex Arlene

Alberto Allison
Bertha Bill Bonnie Bret

Beryl Barry
Cesar Claudette Charley Cindy

Chris Chantal
Dolly Danny Danielle Dennis Debby Dean
Edouard Erika Earl Emily

Ernesto Erin
Fran Fabian Frances Floyd

Florence Felix
Gustav Grace Georges Gert

Gordon Gabrielle
Hortense Henri Hermine Harvey

Helene Humberto
Isodore Isabel Ivan Irene

Isaac Iris
Josephine Juan Jeane Jose

Joyce Jerry
Kyle Katc Karl Katrina

Keith Karen
Lili Larry Lisa Lenny

Leslie Lorenzo
Marco Mindy Mitch Maria Michael Michelle
Nana Nicholas Nicole Nate

Nadine Noel
Omar Odette Otto Ophelia

Oscar Olga
Paloma Peter Paula Phillippe

Patty Pablo
Rene Rose Richard Rita

Raphael Rebekah
Sally Sam Shary Stan

Sandy Sebastien
Teddy Teresa Tomas Tammy Tony Tanya
Vicky Victor Virginie Vince

Valeric Van
Wilfred Wanda Walter Wilma

William Wendy