The Storm ID...

Each storm is given a unique eight character code called the storm ID to identify it in the database. The storm ID is of the format RECYYEAR, where

RE = Region (basin) of Origin
AL - North Atlantic
WP - Western North Pacific
CP - Central North Pacific
EP - Eastern North Pacific
IO - North Indian Ocean
SH - Southern Hemisphere
CY = Annual Cyclone Number(01-99)
YEAR = Four Digit Storm Year

The only tricky part is that the southern hemisphere storm years start on July 1 and end on June 30.

Examples:
WP011992 is the first (01) western North Pacific (WP) storm in 1992.
SH011992 is the first (01) Southern Hemisphere storm in 1992 even though it started in September of 1991!

Last updated 20-Sep-99