That's how many names are set aside each year for Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes tracked by the National Hurricane Center — skipping Q, U, X, Y and Z — with this year's list running from Arthur to Wilfred as the 2026 hurricane season officially begins June 1. The names rotate on a six-year cycle managed by the World Meteorological Organization, with one key exception: Storms that cause enough death and destruction get their names retired permanently. This year's only new name is Leah, which replaced Laura, the deadly Category 4 hurricane that struck Louisiana in 2020. If all 21 names are exhausted, forecasters move to a supplemental list that starts with Adria and runs to Will, a contingency that has already been needed in recent years as storm activity has intensified.
