As the Pacific typhoon season gets underway, the Hong Kong Observatory has introduced “Dim-sum” as one of the new names for tropical cyclones forming in the region, highlighting how storm names reflect a diverse range of cultural and linguistic origins. The name pays homage to the city’s iconic bite-sized cuisine and was selected through a public submission process earlier this year.
The naming of typhoons in the western Pacific is overseen by the Typhoon Committee, established in 1968 through a collaboration between the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization. The committee’s membership includes 14 countries and territories—among them the United States, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Koreas—each contributing a set of 10 names drawn from their languages and cultures. This approach results in storm names inspired by animals, plants, historical figures, mythological characters, and food.
The committee maintains an active roster of 140 names, arranged in five columns and recycled every four to five years depending on the frequency of storms. Aside from Dim-sum, Hong Kong has previously contributed names such as Dolphin—named after the city’s animal mascot—Banyan (a type of tree), and Lionrock (a local mountain). Similarly, Japan often submits names derived from constellations, including Koinu (meaning “puppy”) and Koguma (“bear cub”), while Malaysia favors native flora and fauna, like the Cempaka flower.
The process of naming typhoons has evolved over decades. During World War II, weather forecasting in parts of Asia was restricted by occupying Japanese forces, leading countries in the region to rely heavily on American military forecasters. Early U.S. lists used exclusively female names, drawn from the forecasters’ personal circles. In the 1970s, male names were introduced reflecting growing calls for gender equality.
By the 1990s, Asian countries sought to replace American storm names with culturally relevant ones, often engaging the public in the selection process. Names that could be deemed offensive, confusing, or linked to public figures are routinely rejected. For example, in 2005, the Typhoon Committee turned down two Hong Kong public submissions—Taichi and Kapok—due to potential misunderstandings across languages and cultures.
New additions to the list, such as Dim-sum, are carefully vetted to avoid such issues. Lui Yuk Sing, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Observatory, said Dim-sum was chosen alongside names like Sparrow and Shui-sin, the Cantonese word for daffodil.
In some cases, local meteorological agencies assign additional names to storms entering their domain. The Philippines typically renames typhoons early in their approach; Typhoon Jangmi, which recently caused flooding in the Philippines and Japan, was locally known as Domeng.
The retirement of storm names also plays a significant role. Names linked to particularly deadly or destructive storms are removed to avoid distress and confusion. Following Typhoon Haiyan’s catastrophic impact in 2013, its official name was retired in 2015, alongside its Filipino name Yolanda. More recently, the Typhoon Committee retired the name Man-yi after it caused more than a dozen fatalities in the Philippines during 2024, with Dim-sum selected as its replacement.
This system of culturally diverse storm naming underscores the collaborative efforts among Asia-Pacific countries to enhance storm preparedness and communicate risks effectively to the public.