New name for tropical cyclone in 2013 adopted

24 July 2013

A new name "Hato" has been adopted for tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific and South China Sea in 2013, replacing "Washi".

"Hato", name of a constellation, was proposed by Japan. The new name was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) / World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee at its 45th Session in Hong Kong in late January 2013.

According to the convention of the Typhoon Committee, the country or region which has suffered serious human casualties and economic losses from a tropical cyclone may propose to remove its name from the name list. In December 2011, "Washi" brought flash floods and landslip to the southern Philippines where over 2300 people were killed or missing and over 2000 people injured.

The public, aviation and shipping sectors and the media are requested to take note of the updated tropical cyclone name and to take appropriate action. The updated list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings is available at the Hong Kong Observatory website athttp://www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/sound/tcname2013e.htm .