As Hurricane Idalia barrels across the Gulf of Mexico, the west coast of Florida is bracing for impact with widespread evacuations.
It could be the next hurricane to join 2022’s Ian and 2017’s Irma in the “terrible I’s.” Since 1954, more hurricane names starting with the letter I have been retired due to their widespread destruction than any other letter of the alphabet.
Hurricane name lists are repeated every six years, but the World Metrological Organization retires a name if “a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
Here are all 14 hurricanes starting with the letter I that have been retired:
Hurricane Ian
- The Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Cayo Costa, Fla. on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, Ian was the third most costly U.S. hurricane, causing $115.2 billion in damages.
- The death toll from Hurricane Ian totaled at 144 as of the end of 2022.
- One of the most powerful storms to hit the U.S., Hurricane Ian knocked out power for 2.6 million residents in Florida.
Hurricane Ida
- The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Lousiana Sunday Aug. 29, 2021.
- Hurricane Ida killed more than 60 people.
- NOAA estimated Ida inflicted just under $65 billion in damage.
- Ida occurred on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Iota
- The Category 4 Hurricane had only just cooled off from a Category 5 hurricane when it made landfall in Nicaragua on Nov. 17, 2020.
- Damage estimates are $1.4 billion, according to NOAA.
- NOAA also estimated 67 deaths from the hurricane.
- Iota was the strongest hurricane ever recorded so late in the year.
Hurricane Irma
- The Category 4 hurricane hit the Florida Keys Sunday, Sept. 10. 2017 before making landfall again near Naples.
- 129 deaths were attributed to the storm.
- Irma caused more than $53 billion in damages.
- The storm made seven landfalls, four of which as a Category 5 storm before downgrading to a Category 4 ahead of reaching the U.S., according to the NOAA.
Hurricane Ingrid
- Hurricane Ingrid made landfall as a Category 1 storm in northeastern Mexico on Sept. 16, 2013.
- Insured property damage from Ingrid was estimated to be $230 million, according to NOAA.
- 32 deaths were reported as a result of Ingrid, many from heavy rains and mudslides.
- The same day, Tropical Storm Manuel hit Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Hurricane Irene
- Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 storm on August 27, 2011, according to NOAA.
- The next day, it made landfall again near New York City, sending rare tropical storm conditions through the Northeast and New England.
- 44 people died in Hurricane Irene.
- It caused an estimated $6.5 billion in damages.
Hurricane Igor
- Hurricane Igor blew by Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane before hitting Newfoundland on September 21, 2010.
- A National Hurricane Center report said a few people died from being swept away by strong waters.
- Early estimates put the damage in Newfoundland at $200 million. Bermuda reported less than $500,000 in damages.
- Igor was the most damaging hurricane to hit Newfoundland in 75 years.
Hurricane Ike
- After hitting several islands on the way from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas as a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 13, 2008, according to the National Weather Service.
- Ike was directly responsible for 103 deaths across the U.S., Cuba, and Hispaniola.
- Total damage estimates in the U.S. were $29.52 billion.
- Cuba estimated an additional $3-$4 billion in damages.
Hurricane Ivan
- The Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Gulf Shores, Ala. on Sept. 16, 2004, according to the National Weather Service.
- Eight deaths were reported in the Florida Panhandle.
- Damage was estimated near $14 billion.
- At the time, it was considered the strongest, most destructive storm since 1926.
Hurricane Isabel
- Hurricane Isabel was a Category 5 hurricane before downgrading to Category 2 ahead of its landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 18, 2003, according to a National Weather Service report.
- The storm was responsible for 17 deaths.
- Isabel caused $1.7 billion in damages.
- At the time, it was the most significant hurricane to affect North Carolina and Virginia in nearly 50 years.
Hurricane Isadore
- Hurricane Isadore had weakened to a tropical storm by time it made landfall in Louisiana on Sept. 26, 2002, according to the National Weather Service.
- 7 deaths occurred as a result of Isadore, direct and indirect.
- Damage in the U.S. totaled $330 million.
Hurricane Inez
- Hurricane Inez developed in the Atlantic moving towards the Gulf of Mexico between Sept. 21 – Oct. 11, 1966, archival records show. It hit Cuba, spun off a tornado in the Bahamas, and traveled directly over the Florida Keys.
- Estimated death totals were approximately 1,000.
Hurricane Ione
- Hurricane Ione made landfall in North Carolina as a “minimal hurricane” on September 19, 1955, according to the National Weather Service.
- The storm caused $600 million in damage.
- Ione killed seven people in North Carolina.
- It was the fourth hurricane to make landfall in North Carolina within a year.
Hurricane Idalia tracker
Contributing: Jennifer Borresen, Carlie Procell, Doyle Rice, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Kyle Bagenstose, USA TODAY.