According to a statement published on Monday by the Hong Kong Observatory, “Dim Sim” was among nine new names introduced to the list, with others including “Koki”, “Gaeguri”, “Hebi”, “Tomo”, “Burapha” and “Hoaban”.
While “Koki” – which was proposed by Cambodia – refers to the name of a tree there, “Hebi” is the Japanese word for snake.
The forecaster said the new names would replace nine old ones and that they were endorsed by the Typhoon Committee under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Meteorological Organization.
Names for tropical cyclones can be reused, but are retired if a storm incurs heavy casualties or economic losses, according to the Observatory.
The retired names include “Trami” and “Kong-rey”, a typhoon and a super typhoon in October 2024 that caused nearly 160 deaths and affected 9.6 million people.
Other retired names include “Man-yi”, “Usagi” and “Krathon”.
Since 2000, the committee’s 14 members have been nominating names with local characteristics.
The SAR’s nomination of “Dim Sim” came after the Observatory adopted 20 reserve names for tropical cyclones following a public contest, with “Dim Sim”, “Milktea”, and “Tsing-ma” among the popular choices.
