Hurricanes beginning with the letter 'I' are retired the most. Idalia could be next

Storms beginning with the letter "I" are the most common tropical system names to become retired in the Atlantic Ocean, and Idalia, headed toward the Florida coast, has the potential to be next on the list.The United Nations World Meteorological Organization maintains a list of names for each of three oceanic regions and retires names after particularly deadly or destructive storms. Three have been retired in just the past three years."The use of easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time," according to the National Hurricane Center.The lists are in a six-year rotation, so the 2023 list of possible hurricane names will be recycled again in 2029. In the event that more tropical storms occur in a single season than available names for that year, it is then chosen from an approved alternate list of names.Watch live continuous coverage of Hurricane Idalia in the video above. Want to watch on your Smart TV? Download the Very Local app for live coverage.For 25 years, the U.S. only used women’s names to identify storms. Male names were first used in 1978. The practice of using Greek letters as alternate names ended in 2020.Retiring a hurricane nameWhen a tropical storm is extremely deadly or destructive, or “the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity,” the name is retired, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is removed from the list, and another name replaces it.Of the Atlantic retired list of names, those beginning with the letter “I” are the most prominent, with 14 names, which is about 15% of the list.Hurricane Ian is the most recent "I" storm addition to the retired list. The 2022 storm was ranked a Category 4, causing more than 150 deaths.Ian was the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history, causing $115 billion in damage, and third on the all-time list in the U.S., according to a National Hurricane Center report.Hurricane Ida, another tropical storm, joined the "I" retirees in 2021 after claiming 87 lives in the U.S. and 20 in Venezuela, according to the Hurricane Center's cyclone report.Here is a list of the notable "I" hurricanes whose names were retired soon after:Hurricane Ian (2022)Hurricane Ian was a Category 5 hurricane that devastated Florida in September 2022.It caused 150 fatalities and $113 billion in damages, the third-costliest weather disaster on record. In addition to the Florida deaths, Ian also caused five fatalities in Cuba, five in North Carolina and one in Virginia, bringing its total to 161.Hurricane Ida (2021)Hurricane Ida is the second-most damaging and intense hurricane in Louisiana history, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Ida hit Louisiana on Aug. 24, 2021, as a Category 4 hurricane. The remnants of the storm also brought destruction to the Northeast a few days later.In total, 107 deaths are attributed to Ida: 30 in Louisiana, 29 in New Jersey, 20 in Venezuela, 17 in New York, five in Pennsylvania, two in Mississippi, two in Alabama, one in Maryland and one in Connecticut.Hurricane Igor (2010)Hurricane Igor reached maximum sustained winds of 155 mph in September 2010, producing massive swells that caused four deaths: two in the Caribbean, one on the Canadian island of Newfoundland and one in the U.S.It is the most destructive storm in Newfoundland's history, causing $200 million in damages.Hurricane Ike (2008)Reaching a peak Category 4 intensity, Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc in Cuba, Haiti and Texas in September 2008.Related video above: Fire department struggles to rebuild after IkeIn total, 195 people died due to Ike, including 113 in the United States, seven in Cuba, and two in the Dominican Republic.Damages in the U.S. totaled $30 billion, $7.3 billion in Cuba, $200 million in the Bahamas and $500 million in the Turks and Caicos. In the aftermath, Texas conducted its largest search-and-rescue operation in state history.Hurricane Inez (1966)This powerful Category 5 hurricane brought devastation to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and Florida in September and October 1966.Over 1,000 deaths are attributed to Inez, as well as $227 million in damages, or roughly $2 billion in 2023, according to calculations. Additionally, the storm left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.Hurricane Ingrid (2013)Mexico faced an unfortunate situation in September 2013, being hit by two tropical storms within 24 hours – Hurricane Ingrid and Hurricane Manuel.Together, the two storms killed 192 people and caused roughly $5.7 billion in damages, though Ingrid is only directly responsible for 32 deaths and $1.5 billion.Hurricane Ione (1955)Hurricane Ione hit North Carolina in September 1955. Category 4 hurricane caused dangerous flooding and massive damage from its 140 mph winds.In total, Ione caused seven deaths and $88 million in damages, equivalent to $900 million in 2023.Hurricane Iota (2020)Hitting in November 2020, Hurricane Iota caused severe damage in Central America. Peaking as a Category 4 storm, while reaching 155 mph wins, Iota caused 84 total fatalities and $1.4 billion in damages.Video above: Powerful Hurricane Iota roars ashore in NicaraguaHeavy rainfall also played a major factor in its destruction, spurring flash flooding and mudslides. Hurricane Irene (2011)This Category 3 hurricane affected large parts of the Caribbean and the East Coast of the U.S. in August 2011.Video above: Officials learn from IreneMaking landfall multiple times, including Puerto Rico, the Outer Banks in North Carolina, southeastern New Jersey and Brooklyn. In total, 49 deaths are attributed to Irene, along with $14.2 billion in damages. Hurricane Iris (2001)Hurricane Iris was a Category 4 storm that brought destruction to Belize in October 2001. The small but powerful hurricane caused 36 direct fatalities and $250 million in damages, or $430 million in 2023.Hurricane Irma (2017)This Category 5 hurricane reached sustained winds of 180 mph, causing extensive damage in the Caribbean and the United States, particularly Florida.Video above: Hurricane Irma survivorsAt least 134 fatalities – 52 directly and 82 indirectly – are attributed to Irma. Ninety-two of the deaths occurred in the U.S. Also, $77.2 billion in damages were generated. Hurricane Isabel (2003)Hurricane Isabel made landfall on the Outer Banks in North Carolina in September 2003. Topping out as a Category 5 storm with 165 mph winds, Isabel caused extensive damage in Virginia, unleashing overwhelming rainfall in the region, and leading to brutal flooding. Overall, 51 deaths are attributed to Isabel, as well as $3.6 billion in damages, or nearly $6 billion in 2023.Hurricane Isidore (2002)In September 2002, Hurricane Isidore caused widespread damage across Mexico, Cuba and the United States.Peaking as a Category 3 storm, Isidore brought massive flooding to the regions. Overall, Isidore is blamed for 22 deaths and $1.28 billion in damages, or a little over $2 billion in 2023.Hurricane Ivan (2004)Topping out at Category 5 with 165 mph winds, Hurricane Ivan crashed into the Caribbean and the U.S. in September 2004.Video above: Looking back at Hurricane IvanAttributed to causing 124 deaths and $40 billion in damages, Ivan devastated the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida and Alabama with its thrashing winds and heavy rainfall.