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Hurricane Names Matthew and Otto Retired

Hurricane Matthew caused 585 deaths in 2016, which has led the World Meteorological Organization to retire the storm name. (Photo courtesy of NASA/ Flickr)
Hurricane Matthew caused 585 deaths in 2016, which has led the World Meteorological Organization to retire the storm name. (Photo courtesy of NASA/ Flickr)

Andrew, Frances, Charley, Katrina and Sandy are all on the list of retired hurricane names — Matthew and Otto are now joining the list.

The two storms were the deadliest of the 2016 hurricane season that wreaked havoc on the Caribbean and other areas.

The World Meteorological Organization’s Region IV Hurricane Committee retires storm names when they were so deadly or destructive that future use would be considered insensitive.

Matthew became a category 5 storm and  made landfall along the southwestern coast of Haiti, eastern Cuba, western Grand Bahama Island and central South Carolina causing 585 deaths in Haiti, the Caribbean and the United States between Sept. 30 and Oct. 10.

Otto crossed over Central America on Nov. 24, which is the latest in any calendar year on record in the Atlantic Basin, according to Colorado State University tropical scientist, Dr. Phil Klotzbach. Heavy rainfall and flooding due to Otto caused 18 deaths in Central America.

The World Meteorological Organization will replace Matthew with Martin and Otto with Owen for names of future Atlantic storms, according to a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The new names might first be used in 2022.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org