Helene is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2024 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Helene. Its place on the list now belongs to Holly, on the 2030 list. Since 1988, six storms have been named Helene; the strongest, in 1988, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.
Yes. Helene is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 2024 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.
It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the Atlantic lists. Its place on the list, the H slot, now belongs to Holly, on the 2030 Atlantic list, which is next used in 2030.
Helene formed in the Atlantic in September 2024 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 939 mb. It made landfall near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Hurricane Helene (2024): track and historyHelene formed in the Atlantic in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Hurricane Helene (2018): track and historyHelene formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Tropical Storm Helene (2012): track and historyHelene formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
Hurricane Helene (2006): track and historyHelene formed in the Atlantic in September 2000 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Wright, United States. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Tropical Storm Helene (2000): track and historyHelene formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Hurricane Helene (1988): track and history| Storm | Landfall near | Date (UTC) | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helene 2024 | Perry, United States | 2024-09-27 03:10 | 140 mph / 220 km/h |
| Helene 2012 | Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Mexico | 2012-08-18 12:00 | 35 mph / 55 km/h |
| Helene 2000 | Wright, United States | 2000-09-22 12:00 | 40 mph / 65 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 2024, 2018, 2012, 2006, 2000 and 1988, Helene was the 8th name used in the Atlantic season.
The most recent was Hurricane Helene in 2024, in the Atlantic. It formed on September 23, peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h) and lasted 5 days. It made landfall near Perry, United States. It was the 8th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2018, 2012, 2006, 2000 and 1988.
Hurricane Helene in 1988 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in September. The weakest of the six, in 2012, peaked at 45 mph (75 km/h).