Tropical Storm Debby may sound familiar to weather enthusiasts due to several storms bearing the name since the early 1980s, but none have been deemed significant enough for name retirement by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The most notable Debby occurred in 2012 when it struck Florida’s Big Bend, causing extensive damage estimated at a quarter billion dollars and leading to eight fatalities.
Despite this, the WMO did not retire the name “Debby” following the 2012 season, whereas other storm names like “Sandy” were retired due to their severe impact, such as causing $70 billion in damages along the Eastern Seaboard.
The WMO’s criteria for retiring names involve substantial damage or loss of life, and while “Debby” was impactful, it did not meet the threshold for retirement compared to other more destructive storms.
If the 2024 Debby does not result in significant damage or fatalities, the name will remain available for future use.
Peoplesmind
