How the Hurricanes are Named
Every year, the world is faced with the threat of violent storms known as hurricanes. These powerful weather systems can bring destruction and chaos to coastal communities, causing loss of life and property damage. The naming of hurricanes may seem like a simple task, but it is a process that requires careful consideration and coordination. In this article, we will explore the history behind hurricane naming and the key players involved in the process.
A Brief History of Hurricane Naming
The tradition of naming hurricanes dates back to 1953, when the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began using female given names to identify tropical systems. The reasoning behind this decision was twofold. Firstly, it was believed that naming hurricanes would make them easier to discuss and warn people about, rather than using numerical identifiers that sounded impersonal. Secondly, it was thought that using female names would be more appealing to the public, as it was believed that people would be more likely to remember and pay attention to information about a “Dolly” or a “Jean” rather than a “Tropical Storm 12” or a “Cyclone 3”.
The List of Names
Each year, the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) releases a list of 21 names for each alphabetical letter, except for Q, U, X, Y, and Z, which have fewer letters. The list is shared between the Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, and Central Pacific regions. The same list of names is reused every six years, unless a hurricane is particularly devastating and causes the name to be retired from the list.
The Six Names to be Retired in 2022
Interestingly, the list of hurricane names is also subject to changes. In 2022, the following six names will be retired from the list due to the devastation caused by each storm:
- Hurricane Ida (2021)
- Hurricane Delta (2020)
- Hurricane Isaias (2020)
- Hurricane Eta (2020)
- Hurricane Laura (2020)
- Hurricane Nana (2020)
How the Names are Chosen
The WMO has strict guidelines for choosing hurricane names. Each name must:
- be easy to pronounce and remember
- have no previous association with a tropical cyclone
- not be objectionable to any cultural group
- be distinct from any other tropical cyclone name
To ensure that the naming process remains fair and democratic, the WMO holds a voting process among its member countries. Each country gets one vote, and the votes are tallied to determine the final list of names.
Conclusion
Naming hurricanes is a crucial process that requires careful consideration and coordination. While it may seem like a simple task, the naming of hurricanes is an important step in keeping people informed and warning them of the potential dangers of these powerful storms. By understanding the history, list of names, and the process behind naming hurricanes, we can better appreciate the importance of this process and the role it plays in keeping us safe from these devastating weather systems.
