New names for tropical cyclones in 2020

     Two new names, Pulasan and Krathon, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2020 to replace the old names of Rumbia and Mangkhut respectively.
      
     The new names were endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee at its 52nd session. The meanings of these two new names and the contributing countries are as follows:      
     

 
     According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. In August 2018, tropical storm Rumbia brought torrential rain to eastern China and central China. Fifty-two people were killed and one went missing. More than 10 million people were affected. In September 2018, super typhoon Mangkhut brought heavy downpours and squalls to Luzon during its passage, resulting in at least 82 deaths, 138 injuries and two missing with the collapse of around 15 000 houses. Mangkhut also brought damaging winds and a severe storm surge to the coast of the Pearl River Estuary, leading to damages of many buildings and coastal structures as well as serious inundation in low-lying areas. Four hundred and fifty-eight people and 40 people were injured in Hong Kong and Macao respectively. At least six people were killed and around 3.3 million were affected in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
      
     The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings is available at the Hong Kong Observatory website: www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/sound/tcname2020e.html.