A punk rock icon and a fermented Japanese rice have helped inspire the names of the next tropical cyclones in Australia.
The next six months has the potential for nine to 11 tropical cyclones, which is about average for Australia.
A handful of those can be expected to reach severe level, categorised by meteorologists as level three or stronger.
The upcoming tropical cyclone is set to be named Fina, with others in line including Iggy, reminiscent of the iconic musician Iggy Pop, and Koji, a type of rice grain used in Miso production.
The names progress in alphabetical order and switch between male and female. The 11 updated names are: Fina, Grant, Hayley, Iggy, Jenna, Koji, Launa, Mitchell, Narelle, Oran, and Peta.
Australia’s tropical cyclones have been named by the bureau since the mid 1960s.
Initially, the cyclones were only given female names – with the first official names being Audrey and Bessie in 1964.
Over the past 62 years of intense weather, some of Australia’s most devastating cyclones have been named Tracy, Larry, Olivia, Debbie, and Alfred.
Earlier this year, the bureau decided to change the name of a major tropical cyclone off northern Queensland from Anthony to Alfred.
The move was made to avoid confusion with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of May’s federal election.
