Ursula, Tisoy out as cyclone names

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has replaced the local names of two destructive tropical cyclones which hit the country last year.

The weather bureau said tropical cyclone names Tisoy and Ursula would be replaced by Tamaraw and Ugong, respectively. The new names will be used in 2023.

Tisoy and Ursula were the 20th and 21st cyclones which slammed the country in December last year. 

Tisoy (international name Kammuri) left some P3.67 billion worth of damage to agriculture in the Bicol and Mimaropa regions. The typhoon killed 13 people.

Ursula (Phanfone), on the other hand, damaged some P1.07 billion worth of crops and infrastructure in Mimaropa, Bicol and the Visayas. The typhoon also left 41 dead.

PAGASA decommissions the name of a cyclone which causes at least 300 deaths or P1 billion worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau released the list of tropical cyclone names for 2020.

These are Ambo, Butchoy, Carina, Dindo, Enteng, Ferdie, Gener, Helen, Igme, Julian, Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, Siony, Tonyo, Ulysses, Vicky, Warren, Yoyong and Zosimo.

Aside from the original list, PAGASA also prepared an auxiliary list in case the number of tropical cyclones within the year exceeds 25.

The auxiliary names are Alamid, Bruno, Conching, Dolor, Ernie, Florante, Gerardo, Hernan, Isko and Jerome. PAGASA has four sets of tropical cyclone names that are used every four years.