New names for tropical cyclones in 2024

     Nine new names, Jamjari, Tsing-ma, Tokei, Ong-mang, Amuyao, Gosari, Hodu, Sarbul and Luc-Binh, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2024 to replace the old names of Nalgae, Ma-on, Kompasu, Hinnamnor, Malakas, Megi, Noru, Rai and Conson respectively.

     The new names were endorsed at the 56th session of the Typhoon Committee which is under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization.

     The meanings of the nine new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:

Name Meaning Contributing country/region
Jamjari A dragonfly Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Tsing-ma A landmark bridge connecting the airport and urban areas in Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
Tokei Horologium; clock Japan
Ong-mang Ong-mang is the name of animal "Eld's Deer". It is listed as rare and endangered (EN) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and endangered species of Lao PDR Lao PDR
Amuyao A mountain in Mountain Province, the Philippines Philippines
Gosari Bracken Republic of Korea
Hodu Walnut Republic of Korea
Sarbul Monsoon/Rainy Season Micronesia
Luc-Binh It is an aquatic plant. It has purple flowers that bloom on all year. The scientific name is Eichhoriaceae crassipes solms Vietnam

 
     According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. Severe Tropical Storm Conson hit the Philippines in early September 2021, causing 20 deaths, 33 injuries and four missing. Also, about 9 000 buildings were damaged. In October 2021, Typhoon Kompasu led to 43 deaths, five injuries and 16 missing during its passage in the Philippines. Over 500 000 people were evacuated. Super Typhoon Rai was the first super typhoon over the South China Sea in December since 1961. Rai moved across the Philippines in December 2021, leading to 406 deaths, 65 missing and more than 1 200 injuries. The economic loss exceeded 33.2 billion PHP. In April 2022, Tropical Storm Megi brought torrential rain to the Philippines, causing flooding and landslides in many places and resulting in 214 deaths and 132 missing. Over 2 million people were affected. During the passage of Typhoon Ma-on in the Philippines in late August 2022, three people were killed and four people were injured. The most intense tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2022 was Super Typhoon Hinnamnor, which hit the Republic of Korea during August to September 2022 and led to 11 deaths and one missing. Over 5 000 houses were damaged. The economic loss exceeded 244 billion KRW. Super Typhoon Noru hit the Philippines in September 2022, resulting in 12 deaths, 68 injuries and five missing. In late October 2022, Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae brought about 164 deaths, 270 injuries and 28 missing during its passage in the Philippines. Over 2 million people were affected. The economic loss exceeded 13.1 billion PHP. Additionally, "Malakas" is considered to contain inappropriate meaning in other languages and hence was retired.
 
     The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings are available on the Hong Kong Observatory website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/informtc/sound/tcname2024e.html).