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Storms named Tomas (retired)

Tomas is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2010 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Tomas. Its place on the list now belongs to Tobias, on the 2028 list. Since 2010, two storms have been named Tomas; the strongest, in 2010, peaked as a Category 4 cyclone.

Times used
2
2010–2010
Strongest
2010 · Cat 4
937 mb
Most recent
2010
Atlantic
Retired
After 2010
Slot now: Tobias (2028 list)
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20102010Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

Has the name Tomas been retired?

Yes. Tomas is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 2010 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 Tomas be used again?

It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the Atlantic lists. Its place on the list, the T slot, now belongs to Tobias, on the 2028 Atlantic list, which is next used in 2028.

Every storm named Tomas, newest first

Hurricane Tomas (2010)

C2
Dates
October 29, 2010 to November 10, 2010 (13 days)
Peak wind
100 mph / 155 km/h · Category 2
Lowest pressure
982 mb
Ocean
Atlantic
Order in season
19th name of 2010

Tomas formed in the Atlantic in October 2010 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Bridgetown, Barbados and last near Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The system was tracked for 13 days.

Hurricane Tomas (2010): track and history

Cyclone Tomas (2010)

C4
Dates
March 10, 2010 to March 20, 2010 (10 days)
Peak wind
130 mph / 215 km/h · Category 4
Lowest pressure
937 mb
Ocean
Southern Hemisphere
ACE
21.4

Tomas formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2010 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Cyclone Tomas (2010): track and history

Where storms named Tomas made landfall

StormLandfall nearDate (UTC)Wind
Tomas 2010Bridgetown, Barbados2010-10-30 09:0070 mph / 110 km/h
Tomas 2010Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2010-10-30 20:00100 mph / 155 km/h
Tomas 2010Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands2010-11-06 07:3070 mph / 110 km/h

Why was the storm named Tomas?

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 2010, Tomas was the 19th name used in the Atlantic season.

Tomas in other oceans

Storms named Tomas appear in more than one ocean in our archive:

  • Atlantic: 2010
  • Southern Hemisphere: 2010

Each ocean region keeps its own name lists, drawn up by its own WMO regional committee (Tropical cyclone naming), so the same name can be given to unrelated storms in different oceans.

Questions about the name Tomas

When was the last time a storm was named Tomas?

The most recent was Hurricane Tomas in 2010, in the Atlantic. It formed on October 29, peaked at 100 mph (155 km/h) and lasted 13 days. It made landfall near Bridgetown, Barbados. It was the 19th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2010.

What was the strongest storm named Tomas?

Cyclone Tomas in 2010 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 cyclone with winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March. The weakest of the two, in 2010, peaked at 100 mph (155 km/h).