The World Meteorological Organization has decided to retire the names of two devastating hurricanes, Ian and Fiona. These hurricanes caused significant damage in their respective regions, leading to loss of life and property.
As part of the organization's practice, when a hurricane causes extensive damage or death tolls, its name is retired to avoid confusion in future years. The decision was made during the annual meeting held by the organization's hurricane committee.
Ian hit the Caribbean islands and Florida back in 2016. The Category 5 hurricane caused widespread destruction with winds of up to 185 mph. It killed over 100 people across several countries including Haiti, Cuba, and Dominican Republic.
Fiona struck Bermuda in October 2020 as a Category 3 storm causing power outages for thousands of residents on the island nation. Although no deaths were reported due to this hurricane; it caused millions of dollars worth of damages.
The WMO has replaced these names with Idris and Farrah respectively for use starting from next year's Atlantic Hurricane season. Idris is an Arabic name meaning "interpreter," while Farrah is derived from Arabic-Persian origin meaning "happiness."
The decision to replace retiring names is done through an international system where member countries submit suggestions that are reviewed by committees before being approved for use as replacements.
This move ensures that future generations do not confuse new storms with those that have already passed but still hold significance due to their impact on communities worldwide.
In conclusion, retirement from active duty does not mean forgetting about past hurricanes' devastation; instead, it serves as a reminder for everyone to take precautions against potential natural disasters that could occur any time soon.