How to name storms in the Northwest Pacific region

Storms can stay at sea for an average of 7-8 days or longer. In the same area, at the same time, there can be 2 to 3 storms, or even more. Therefore, people have named storms to avoid confusion in providing information about each storm.

Since 1945, storms in the Northwest Pacific region (including the East Sea of ​​Vietnam) have been officially named after women; by 1979, men's names were also used.

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Storm Tra Mi 2024 is about to enter the East Sea. Photo: Windy

Since January 1, 2000, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific have been named according to a new list of names. The new names are proposed by 14 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region that are members of the Typhoon Committee of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Each member provides 10 names, making a list of 140 typhoon names.

The list of new storm names is mostly names of flowers, birds, plants, animals and even food. Some of the storm names include: Yagi (goat); Damrey (elephant); Pulasan (a fruit in Malaysia); Krathon (a fruit in Thailand);...

Some other storm names are the names of famous characters in other countries: Wukong (Ngo Khong); Prapiroon (rain god in Thailand); Son-Tinh (mountain god in Vietnam)...

Storms forming in the northwestern Pacific Ocean are assigned names by the WMO to the Tokyo Tropical Storm Warning Center of the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The Tokyo Tropical Storm Center - Japan Meteorological Agency will use the names in the bank of 140 names above to name storms in the region.

Each year, the Northwest Pacific region sees 20-23 storms, while there are only 140 storm names, so on average every 6 years, storm names have to be repeated once.

For example, the name Tra Mi was given to storms that occurred in 2018, 2013 and 2006.

List of storm names proposed by Vietnam

WMO members meet once a year to update the list of storm names. Typically, a country can ask to have a storm name retired if it causes such devastating damage that it may bring back painful memories for people.

Currently (October 2024), the list of storm names proposed by Vietnam, used to name international storms, includes 10 names: SonTinh (Son Tinh), CoMay (Co May), Bavi (Ba Vi), LucBinh (Luc Binh), Sonca (Son Ca), Trami (Tra Mi), Halong (Ha Long), BangLang (Bang Lang), Songda (Song Da), Saola (Sao La).

The name of storm Tra Mi was chosen by the Japan Meteorological Agency in the order of column 1 in the storm name table below.

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List of storm names proposed by countries.

Camellia is the name of a flower. Camellia is also known as camellia, the flower's scientific name is Camellia Japonica, belonging to the tea genus. The flower originates from East Asia.

Storm Tra Mi is moving rapidly into the East Sea, possibly reaching a maximum intensity of level 15. The intensity of storm Tra Mi (storm Trami) continues to increase and will enter the East Sea around tomorrow evening. It is forecasted that the storm will reach a maximum intensity of level 12, gusting to level 15 when it moves towards the Hoang Sa archipelago. After that, the storm will continue to move towards the Central provinces, causing heavy rain.