The human side of cyclones: Who gives cyclones their names and why?

Dar es Salaam. Why are tropical cyclones given humans’ names and who names them?

That is the question that has been crossing people’s minds, with many wondering the extent to which tropical storms are forecasted well in advance to warrant the assignment of their designated names.

The answer unravels a narrative as rich and complex as the storms themselves.

According to a meteorological expert and assistant lecturer at Mzumbe University, Mr Job Buberwa, the roots of this tradition can be traced back many years to an era characterised by limited communication channels, where the imperative for effective information dissemination was paramount.

Picture a time when warnings of impending storms were conveyed through static-filled radios and crackling telegraphs.

“In such a world, numbers and coordinates may have left much to be desired in terms of memorability and relatability.”

Thus, the idea took root: assign names to these natural phenomena. Names that would evoke familiarity and facilitate understanding.

According to Mr Buberwa, names are, after all, the building blocks of human connection, imbued with stories and emotions.

“By attaching a name to a cyclone, it ceased to be just a meteorological event; it became a character in the grand drama of nature, with its own identity and narrative arc,” he told The Citizen on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

But he noted that there's more to cyclone naming than mere convenience.

He narrates that as the winds of change swept across the globe, so too did societal norms and perceptions.

In the early days, names were predominantly female—a reflection, perhaps, of the prevailing attitudes towards women.

He reveals that storms were seen as emotional and unpredictable, much like the stereotypical image of a woman scorned.

This association, Mr Buberwa said, even in Tanzania has been sparking debates and discussions, with some questioning the implications of gendered naming conventions.

“Are we unwittingly perpetuating harmful stereotypes? Are female-named storms viewed differently than their male counterparts? These are questions that linger in the collective consciousness, prompting introspection and reflection.

Indeed, he said, the World Meteorological Organisation, custodian of the cyclone naming process, acknowledges the nuances of this practice.

They emphasise the importance of inclusivity and diversity in name selection, striving to ensure that all voices are heard and represented.

In recent years, efforts have been made to balance the gender ratio of cyclone names, fostering a more equitable approach to naming.

Yet, amidst the complexities and controversies, one thing remains clear: “the human element of cyclone naming endures. Behind every name lies a story—a legacy of resilience and adaptation in the face of nature's fury.”

The Tropical Cyclone Committee (TCC) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is responsible for naming the tropical or subtropical cyclones occurring in the south-west Indian Ocean area, which includes the east coast of Africa.

In its sessions, TCC prepares lists of names that serve as the reference and basis for establishing the future lists, “just rotating them forward and changing the names having been used operationally during the corresponding ended cyclone seasons, replacing them by new names provided by the members (and never used before) at the next TCC session,” according to a statement posted on the WMO website.

The statement goes on to say, “The name is chosen, following alphabetical order, from a predefined list of names validated for the basin and for the cyclone season of reference (starting each season with the name with the initial letter “A”), except when a tropical system already named in the South-East Indian Ocean (east of 90° E) shifts to the South-West Indian Ocean. In this case, the original name is kept unchanged.”

Future names

After Hidaya, other cyclones coming onto the Tanzanian coast from now to July 2026 would be named Melina, Faida, Pamela, Chenge and Zaina, depending on TCC’s naming rules and procedures. 

Those going onto the coast of Tanzania’s southern neighbour, Mozambique, a region prone to storms, would be named Alvaro, Zacarias, Ivone, Savana, Horacio and Wilson.