Alma is a retired Pacific hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2008 storm, so no future storm in the eastern or central Pacific will be called Alma. Its place on the list now belongs to Amanda, on the 2026 list. Since 1984, five storms have been named Alma; the strongest, in 2002, peaked as a Category 3 hurricane.
Yes. Alma is on NHC’s list of retired eastern and central Pacific names because of the 2008 storm. It is one of 22 names retired there since 1965 (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).
A name is retired when a storm was so deadly or costly that using the name again would be insensitive; the World Meteorological Organization then picks a new name with the same first letter at its annual meeting.
It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the eastern and central Pacific lists. Its place on the list, the A slot, now belongs to Amanda, on the 2026 East Pacific list, which is the list in use this year.
Alma formed in the East Pacific in May 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near León, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 2 days.
Tropical Storm Alma (2008): track and historyAlma formed in the East Pacific in May 2002 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Hurricane Alma (2002): track and historyAlma formed in the East Pacific in June 1996 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It made landfall near La Mira, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Hurricane Alma (1996): track and historyAlma formed in the East Pacific in May 1990 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Hurricane Alma (1990): track and historyAlma formed in the East Pacific in May 1984 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Tropical Storm Alma (1984): track and history| Storm | Landfall near | Date (UTC) | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma 2008 | León, Nicaragua | 2008-05-29 20:00 | 65 mph / 100 km/h |
| Alma 1996 | La Mira, Mexico | 1996-06-24 00:00 | 105 mph / 165 km/h |
Names go in alphabetical order, one per storm, as each storm reaches tropical-storm strength (39 mph, 34 knots), so a storm’s place in its season decides its name.
In each of 2008, 2002, 1996, 1990 and 1984, Alma was the 1st name used in the East Pacific season.
The most recent was Tropical Storm Alma in 2008, in the East Pacific. It formed on May 29, peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) and lasted 2 days. It made landfall near León, Nicaragua. It was the 1st name used in that East Pacific season. Before that, the name was used in 2002, 1996, 1990 and 1984.
Hurricane Alma in 2002 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It formed in the East Pacific in May. The weakest of the five, in 1984, peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h).