List of named storms (Z)

Storms are named for historical reasons to avoid confusion when communicating with the public, as more than one storm can exist at a time. Names are drawn in order from predetermined lists. For tropical cyclones, names are assigned when a system has one-, three-, or ten-minute winds of more than 65 km/h (40 mph). Standards, however, vary from basin to basin. For example, some tropical depressions are named in the Western Pacific, while within the Australian and Southern Pacific regions, the naming of tropical cyclones are delayed until they have gale-force winds occurring more than halfway around the storm center.

This list covers the letter Z.

Storms

Note: † indicates the name was retired after that usage in the respective basin.

Zack

1992 – a tropical storm that remained over the open western Pacific Ocean.
1995 – a Category 4 equivalent typhoon that struck the Philippines and Vietnam, killing 110 people; also known as Pepang within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Zaka

1996 – a weak tropical cyclone that passed near New Caledonia, causing minor damage.
2011 – a tropical cyclone that dissipated northeast of New Zealand, causing no damage.

Zane

1996 – Category 3 equivalent typhoon that crossed the Ryukyu Islands; also known as Paring within the PAR.
2013 – developed and dissipated between Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

Zazu (2020) – a tropical cyclone that brought heavy surf to Niue and hurricane-force wind gusts to Tonga, but caused no significant damage.

Zeb (1998) – a Category 5 equivalent typhoon that killed 122 people when it struck Luzon; also known as Iliang within the PAR.

Zeke

1991 – passed over the Philippines before hitting Hainan; also known as Etang within the PAR.
1992 – a tropical storm off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
1994 – a typhoon that remained east of Japan.

Zelda

1991 – a severe tropical storm that caused damage in the Marshall Islands.
1994 – Category 4 super typhoon that passed over the Northern Mariana Islands during its circuitous track through the western Pacific Ocean; also known as Esang within the PAR.

Zelia

1998 – a tropical cyclone that developed near Cocos Islands.
2011 – severe tropical cyclone that brought heavy rainfall to New Zealand as an extratropical cyclone.

Zena (2016) – a Category 2 tropical cyclone that passed near Fiji.

Zeta

2005 – an end-of-the-year storm that remained out at sea; one of only two Atlantic tropical cyclones on record to span two calendar years.
2020 – a Category 3 hurricane that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana.

Zia (1999) – a tropical storm that moved across Japan, killing nine.

Zigzag (2003) – a tropical storm that made landfall in northeastern Mindanao; deemed a tropical depression by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Zita

1997 – was a short-lived tropical cyclone that killed seven people in southern China, and caused damage in both Chia and Vietnam, where there was additional loss of life; also known as Luming within the PAR>
2007 – a tropical cyclone that passed through French Polynesia.

Zoe

1974 – a severe tropical cyclone that moved along the coast of Queensland.
2002† – a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, and one of the strongest South Pacific tropical cyclones on record in terms atmospheric pressure, that affected the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Rotuma.

Zola

1990 – a Category 3 equivalent typhoon that struck Japan, killing 3 people.
1993 – a severe tropical storm that made landfall in Japan; also known as Unsing within the PAR.

Zoraida (2013) – a storm that affected the Philippines and Vietnam; also known as Podul beyond the PAR.

Zorbas (2018) – a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone that reached Category 1 equivalent strength.

Zosimo (2004) – a tropical storm that moved through the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia; also known as Talas beyond the PAR.

Zuman

1987 – a short-lived and weak storm that churned in the open South Pacific
1998 – a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone that struck Espiritu Santo

References

General

^[1]
^[2]
61st IHC action items (PDF) (Report). Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. November 29, 2007. pp. 5–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2007. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
Padua, Michael V (June 11, 2008). "1945–1997 JTWC names for the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea". Typhoon 2000. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
Padgett, Gary (1999). "A review of the 1998 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2000). "A review of the 1999 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2001). "A review of the 2000 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2002). "A review of the 2001 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2003). "A review of the 2002 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2004). "A review of the 2003 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2005). "A review of the 2004 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2006). "A review of the 2005 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2007). "A review of the 2006 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (November 3, 2008). "A review of the 2007 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (February 11, 2009). "A review of the 2008 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (May 3, 2010). "A review of the 2009 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Padgett, Gary (2011). "A review of the 2010 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Young, Steve (2011). "A review of the 2011 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Young, Steve (2011). "A review of the 2012 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Young, Steve (2014). "A review of the 2013 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
Young, Steve (2015). "A review of the 2014 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
Young, Steve (2016). "A review of the 2015 tropical cyclone season for the Northern Hemisphere". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
Padua, Michael V (November 6, 2008). "PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Names 1963–1988". Typhoon 2000. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
Unattributed (November 9, 2004). "Destructive Typhoons 1970–2003 (101–120)". National Disaster Coordinating Council. Archived from the original on November 9, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
Staff Writer (July 29, 1989). "Luming out Miling in". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
Staff Writer. "Old PAGASA Names: List of names for tropical cyclones occurring within the Philippine Area of Responsibility 1991–2000". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Typhoon 2000. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
Staff Writer (November 27, 1990). "Storm skirts Visayas". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
Unattributed (November 2, 1989). "Typhoons "Dan, Sara, Angela, Elsie" – Philippines UNDRO information report 5". Relief-web. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
Staff Writer (November 18, 1990). "Aquino okays P51M for Typhoon Victims". Manila Standard. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
Staff Writer (2008). "Tropical Cyclone Information for the Australian region". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
^[3]

^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 26, 2024). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2023". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. A guide on how to read the database is available here. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[HURDAT-1] "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[EPAC_HURDAT-2] National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 26, 2024). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2023". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. A guide on how to read the database is available here. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Wellington_BT-3] MetService (May 22, 2009). "TCWC Wellington Best Track Data 1967–2006". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[1]

[2]

[3]

Storms

See also

References