Storms named Gustav (retired)

Gustav is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2008 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Gustav. Its place on the list now belongs to Gonzalo, on the 2026 list. Since 1984, five storms have been named Gustav; the strongest, in 2008, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.

Times used

1984–2008

Strongest

2008 · Cat 4

941 mb

Most recent

2008

Atlantic

Retired

After 2008

Slot now: Gonzalo (2026 list)

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20082002199619901984Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

Has the name Gustav been retired?

Yes. Gustav is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 2008 storm. It is one of 100 names retired there since 1954 (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.

When will Gustav be used again?

It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the Atlantic lists. Its place on the list, the G slot, now belongs to Gonzalo, on the 2026 Atlantic list, which is the list in use this year.

Every storm named Gustav, newest first

Hurricane Gustav (2008)

Dates: August 25, 2008 to September 5, 2008 (12 days)
Peak wind: 155 mph / 250 km/h · Category 4
Lowest pressure: 941 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 7th name of 2008

Gustav formed in the Atlantic in August 2008 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It made 6 landfalls, first near Jacmel, Haiti and last near Houma, United States. The system was tracked for 12 days.

Hurricane Gustav (2008): track and history

Hurricane Gustav (2002)

Dates: September 8, 2002 to September 15, 2002 (7 days)
Peak wind: 100 mph / 155 km/h · Category 2
Lowest pressure: 960 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 7th name of 2002

Gustav formed in the Atlantic in September 2002 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Sydney, Canada and last near Stephenville, Canada. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Hurricane Gustav (2002): track and history

Tropical Storm Gustav (1996)

Dates: August 26, 1996 to September 2, 1996 (7 days)
Peak wind: 45 mph / 75 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 1005 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 7th name of 1996

Gustav formed in the Atlantic in August 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Tropical Storm Gustav (1996): track and history

Hurricane Gustav (1990)

Dates: August 24, 1990 to September 3, 1990 (10 days)
Peak wind: 120 mph / 195 km/h · Category 3
Lowest pressure: 956 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 7th name of 1990

Gustav formed in the Atlantic in August 1990 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Hurricane Gustav (1990): track and history

Tropical Storm Gustav (1984)

Dates: September 16, 1984 to September 19, 1984 (3 days)
Peak wind: 50 mph / 85 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 1006 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 7th name of 1984

Gustav formed in the Atlantic in September 1984 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.

Tropical Storm Gustav (1984): track and history

Where storms named Gustav made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Gustav 2008	Jacmel, Haiti	2008-08-26 18:00	80 mph / 130 km/h
Gustav 2008	Morant Bay, Jamaica	2008-08-28 18:00	70 mph / 110 km/h
Gustav 2008	Hayes, Jamaica	2008-08-29 02:00	70 mph / 110 km/h
Gustav 2008	Nueva Gerona, Cuba	2008-08-30 18:00	145 mph / 230 km/h
Gustav 2008	Los Palacios, Cuba	2008-08-30 22:00	155 mph / 250 km/h
Gustav 2008	Houma, United States	2008-09-01 15:00	105 mph / 165 km/h
Gustav 2002	Sydney, Canada	2002-09-12 04:30	90 mph / 150 km/h
Gustav 2002	Stephenville, Canada	2002-09-12 09:00	75 mph / 120 km/h

Why was the storm named Gustav?

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, Gustav was the 7th name used in the Atlantic season.

Questions about the name Gustav

When was the last time a storm was named Gustav?

The most recent was Hurricane Gustav in 2008, in the Atlantic. It formed on August 25, peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h) and lasted 12 days. It made landfall near Jacmel, Haiti. It was the 7th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2002, 1996, 1990 and 1984.

What was the strongest storm named Gustav?

Hurricane Gustav in 2008 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in August and made landfall near Jacmel, Haiti. The weakest of the five, in 1996, peaked at 45 mph (75 km/h).