Storms named Hugo (retired)

Hugo is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 1989 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Hugo. Its place on the list now belongs to Humberto, on the 2031 list. It is the only storm named Hugo in our archive, which covers every ocean since 1980.

Times used

1989

Strongest

1989 · Cat 5

918 mb

Most recent

1989

Atlantic

Retired

After 1989

Slot now: Humberto (2031 list)

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1989Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

Has the name Hugo been retired?

Yes. Hugo is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 1989 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 Hugo be used again?

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 Humberto, on the 2031 Atlantic list, which is next used in 2031.

Every storm named Hugo, newest first

Hurricane Hugo (1989)

Dates: September 10, 1989 to September 25, 1989 (15 days)
Peak wind: 160 mph / 260 km/h · Category 5
Lowest pressure: 918 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 8th name of 1989

Hugo formed in the Atlantic in September 1989 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 918 mb. It made 5 landfalls, first near Le Moule, Guadeloupe and last near Mount Pleasant, United States. The system was tracked for 15 days.

Hurricane Hugo (1989): track and history

Where storms named Hugo made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Hugo 1989	Le Moule, Guadeloupe	1989-09-17 05:00	140 mph / 220 km/h
Hugo 1989	Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands	1989-09-18 06:00	140 mph / 220 km/h
Hugo 1989	Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico	1989-09-18 12:00	125 mph / 205 km/h
Hugo 1989	Fajardo, Puerto Rico	1989-09-18 13:00	125 mph / 205 km/h
Hugo 1989	Mount Pleasant, United States	1989-09-22 04:00	140 mph / 220 km/h

Why was the storm named Hugo?

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 1989, Hugo was the 8th name used in the Atlantic season.

Questions about the name Hugo

When was the last time a storm was named Hugo?

The most recent was Hurricane Hugo in 1989, in the Atlantic. It formed on September 10, peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h) and lasted 15 days. It made landfall near Le Moule, Guadeloupe. It was the 8th name used in that Atlantic season. It is the only storm named Hugo in our archive, which covers every ocean since 1980.