Storms named Gamma

Gamma 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 Gamma; the strongest, in 2020, peaked as a Category 1 hurricane.

Times used

2005–2020

Strongest

2020 · Cat 1

978 mb

Most recent

2020

Atlantic

First used

2005

In our archive since 1980

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20202005Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

When will Gamma 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 Gamma, newest first

Hurricane Gamma (2020)

Dates: October 2, 2020 to October 6, 2020 (5 days)
Peak wind: 75 mph / 120 km/h · Category 1
Lowest pressure: 978 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 24th name of 2020

Gamma formed in the Atlantic in October 2020 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Tulum, Mexico and last near Panabá, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.

Hurricane Gamma (2020): track and history

Tropical Storm Gamma (2005)

Dates: November 14, 2005 to November 22, 2005 (8 days)
Peak wind: 50 mph / 85 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 1002 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 24th name of 2005

Gamma formed in the Atlantic in November 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.

Tropical Storm Gamma (2005): track and history

Where storms named Gamma made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Gamma 2020	Tulum, Mexico	2020-10-03 16:45	75 mph / 120 km/h
Gamma 2020	Panabá, Mexico	2020-10-06 03:00	35 mph / 55 km/h

Why was the storm named Gamma?

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, Gamma was the 24th 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 Gamma

When was the last time a storm was named Gamma?

The most recent was Hurricane Gamma in 2020, in the Atlantic. It formed on October 2, peaked at 75 mph (120 km/h) and lasted 5 days. It made landfall near Tulum, Mexico. It was the 24th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2005.

What was the strongest storm named Gamma?

Hurricane Gamma in 2020 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in October and made landfall near Tulum, Mexico. The weakest of the two, in 2005, peaked at 50 mph (85 km/h).