Storms named Zeta

Zeta 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 Zeta; the strongest, in 2020, peaked as a Category 3 hurricane.

Times used

2005–2020

Strongest

2020 · Cat 3

970 mb

Most recent

2020

Atlantic

First used

2005

In our archive since 1980

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20202005Tracks: IBTrACS / NHC

When will Zeta 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 Zeta, newest first

Hurricane Zeta (2020)

Dates: October 24, 2020 to October 30, 2020 (6 days)
Peak wind: 115 mph / 185 km/h · Category 3
Lowest pressure: 970 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 27th name of 2020

Zeta formed in the Atlantic in October 2020 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Tulum, Mexico and last near Galliano, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.

Hurricane Zeta (2020): track and history

Tropical Storm Zeta (2005)

Dates: December 30, 2005 to January 7, 2006 (9 days)
Peak wind: 65 mph / 100 km/h · Tropical storm
Lowest pressure: 994 mb
Ocean: Atlantic
Order in season: 27th name of 2005

Zeta formed in the Atlantic in December 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.

Tropical Storm Zeta (2005): track and history

Where storms named Zeta made landfall

Storm	Landfall near	Date (UTC)	Wind
Zeta 2020	Tulum, Mexico	2020-10-27 03:55	85 mph / 140 km/h
Zeta 2020	Galliano, United States	2020-10-28 21:00	115 mph / 185 km/h

Why was the storm named Zeta?

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, Zeta was the 27th 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 Zeta

When was the last time a storm was named Zeta?

The most recent was Hurricane Zeta in 2020, in the Atlantic. It formed on October 24, peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h) and lasted 6 days. It made landfall near Tulum, Mexico. It was the 27th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2005.

What was the strongest storm named Zeta?

Hurricane Zeta in 2020 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in October and made landfall near Tulum, Mexico. The weakest of the two, in 2005, peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h).