How Hurricanes Get Named

The naming of hurricanes has become a routine part of our weather forecasting process. But have you ever wondered how these storms get their names? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history and process behind naming hurricanes.

The History of Naming Hurricanes

The tradition of naming hurricanes dates back to the late 19th century, when storms were first identified and tracked using ship logs and telegrams. The practice was formalized in the 1950s, when the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) developed a standardized system for naming tropical cyclones. The WMO, which is responsible for coordinating global weather forecasting efforts, established a list of 21 names that would be assigned to storms in alphabetical order.

The Current Naming System

In 2007, the WMO overhauled the naming system to make it more inclusive and diverse. The new list of names includes:

• 21 names for men
• 21 names for women
• 8 names that are neutral, or can be used for either men or women
• 5 names that are taken from countries with a tropical cyclone basin, such as Japan and Mozambique

The names are drawn from a pool of 5,000 names, which are submitted by countries from around the world. The list is rotated every 6 years, with the exception of those names that are retired due to the severity of damage caused by a particular storm.

How Names are Assigned

When a hurricane forms, forecasters use the latest satellite imagery and radar data to track its movement and intensity. Once the storm reaches tropical storm strength (winds of at least 39 mph), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) assigns a name to the storm from the list of pre-designated names. The naming process typically starts with the first name on the list and works its way through to the end of the list, at which point it starts again from the beginning.

Why Names are Retired

From time to time, a hurricane may cause so much damage or loss of life that the name becomes synonymous with devastation. In these cases, the WMO may retire the name from the list. Examples of retired names include Katrina, which was retired after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Michael, which was retired after the damage caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018.

Benefits of Naming Hurricanes

The process of naming hurricanes has several benefits:

• It makes the storms easier to track and remember
• It helps to raise public awareness and preparedness
• It assigns personal significance to the storm, making it more memorable and easier to communicate with the public
• It helps to reduce confusion, as there may be multiple storms occurring simultaneously

Conclusion

Hurricane naming is a complex process that requires careful planning and coordination. The WMO’s naming system has become an integral part of our weather forecasting process, helping to raise awareness and preparedness for these powerful storms. By understanding the history and process behind naming hurricanes, we can better appreciate the importance of this practice and the role it plays in keeping us safe.