**Next Atlantic Tropical Storm to be Named Dolly, Coinciding with Parton’s Death**
*By Gavin Blackburn, Euronews World - Published on 26/08/2026*
The next tropical storm to form in the Atlantic this hurricane season will be named Dolly, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This announcement comes in the wake of the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton, but officials have clarified that the naming is purely coincidental and not related to her death.
The WMO has established a systematic approach for naming storm systems, which involves reusing lists of names every six years. These lists alternate between male and female names and are organized alphabetically. The current hurricane season began with Tropical Storm Arthur in June, which impacted the US Gulf Coast, followed by Tropical Storm Bertha in July, which brought heavy rainfall to Louisiana and Texas. Earlier this month, Tropical Storm Cristobal formed but quickly dissipated.
As of Tuesday evening, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was closely monitoring a weather system located off the coast of Africa, which is showing potential for development into a named tropical storm. Forecasters indicated that conditions were favorable for this area of thunderstorms, situated south of the Cabo Verde Islands, to evolve into a tropical depression within the next week. Should this system strengthen, it would be designated as Tropical Storm Dolly, with maximum sustained winds of at least 63 kilometers per hour (kph).
Additionally, another weather system located far northeast of Bermuda was reported to be disorganized, with minimal chances for further development.
The NHC, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has predicted a below-average Atlantic hurricane season, largely attributed to the El Niño climate phenomenon. Forecasts suggest there will be between eight to fourteen named storms this season, with three to six expected to reach hurricane strength, and one to three potentially intensifying into major hurricanes.
The practice of naming storms is intended to facilitate clear communication regarding weather warnings and to reduce confusion among the public. The WMO emphasizes that the chosen names are typically short, easy to pronounce, and familiar to the regions affected by the storms. The organization regularly evaluates potential names and has the authority to retire names that are deemed sensitive due to their association with particularly deadly or destructive storms.
Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer, passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer, as confirmed by her team. While her legacy in music and culture is profound, the naming of the upcoming storm remains a matter of meteorological protocol rather than a tribute.
As the Atlantic hurricane season progresses, residents in affected areas are encouraged to stay informed through official weather channels and heed any warnings issued by meteorological authorities.