When a tropical cyclone reaches a wind speed of 39 miles (63 km) per hour, the World Meteorological Association assigns it a name from one of six lists of names it rotates yearly.
If a hurricane is especially deadly or causes extensive damage, its name is “retired” and a new name starting with the same letter is added.
For example, there will never be another hurricane named Andrew because of the ferocious hurricane of that name that hit southern Florida in August 1992.
