Storms named Delta

Delta is a Greek letter. It was used in 2005 and 2020, after the 21 regular Atlantic names had run out. In March 2021 the World Meteorological Organization decided the Greek alphabet will not be used in future; a supplemental list of names is used instead. Since 2005, two storms have been named Delta; the strongest, in 2020, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.

Times used

2005–2020

Strongest

2020 · Cat 4

953 mb

Most recent

2020

Atlantic

First used

2005

In our archive since 1980

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20202005Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

When will Delta be used again?

It won’t be. In March 2021 the WMO Hurricane Committee decided the Greek alphabet will not be used in future, because it distracted from warnings and some letters (Zeta, Eta, Theta) sound alike (WMO Hurricane Committee retires tropical cyclone names and ends the use of Greek alphabet). When the 21 regular Atlantic names run out, storms now take names from a supplemental list approved by the WMO, which starts Adria, Braylen, Caridad (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).

Every storm named Delta, newest first

Hurricane Delta (2020)

Dates: October 4, 2020 to October 11, 2020 (7 days)
Peak wind: 140 mph / 220 km/h · Category 4
Lowest pressure: 953 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 25th name of 2020

Delta formed in the Atlantic in October 2020 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Playa del Carmen, Mexico and last near Lake Charles, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Hurricane Delta (2020): track and history

Tropical Storm Delta (2005)

Dates: November 19, 2005 to November 29, 2005 (10 days)
Peak wind: 70 mph / 110 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 980 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 25th name of 2005

Delta formed in the Atlantic in November 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Tropical Storm Delta (2005): track and history

Where storms named Delta made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Delta 2020	Playa del Carmen, Mexico	2020-10-07 10:30	105 mph / 165 km/h
Delta 2020	Lake Charles, United States	2020-10-09 23:00	100 mph / 155 km/h

Why was the storm named Delta?

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 both 2020 and 2005, Delta was the 25th name used in the Atlantic season, after all 21 regular names.

In 2005 (Alpha to Zeta) and 2020 (Alpha to Iota), the regular list ran out and later storms took Greek letters in order.

Questions about the name Delta

When was the last time a storm was named Delta?

The most recent was Hurricane Delta in 2020, in the Atlantic. It formed on October 4, peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h) and lasted 7 days. It made landfall near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It was the 25th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2005.

What was the strongest storm named Delta?

Hurricane Delta in 2020 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in October and made landfall near Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The weakest of the two, in 2005, peaked at 70 mph (110 km/h).