answersLogoWhite

0

Tropical storms and hurricanes are given names to avoid confusion when more than one storm is being followed at the same time. A storm is named when it reaches tropical storm strength with winds of 39 mph. A Western Hemisphere storm becomes a hurricane when its wind speed reaches 74 mph.

Separate sets of hurricane names are used in the central Pacific, eastern Pacific, and the Atlantic Basin, which includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The World Meteorological Organization's Region 4 Hurricane Committee selects the names for Atlantic Basin storms. The names are English, Spanish and French - the languages spoken in the national Atlantic Basin storms hit. They alternate between male and female names. The group has selected six sets of names, which means each set of names is used again each six years.

Forecasters begin using names in 1950. In that year and in 1951, names were from the international phonetic alphabet in use at the time - Able, Baker, Charlie, etc. Female, English-language names were used beginning in 1953.

Alternating male and female names were first used to name Atlantic Basin hurricanes in 1979. This was also the first year that French and Spanish names, as well as English, were used. The first three male names used, Bob, David and Frederick have all been retired because they did tremendous damage. Frederick and David were retired because of the damage they did in 1979. Bob was retired after a hurricane by that name hit New England in 1991.

The first storm each year in the Atlantic Basin and in the eastern Pacific gets an 'A' name. But the year's first hurricane in the central Pacific from 140 degrees west longitude to the International Date Line and the first typhoon west of the Date Line get the next available name on the list, no matter what letter it

begins with...

--------------------------------------------------

All hurricanes are given names. Why is that? To help us identify storms and track them as they move across the ocean. Remember, there can be more than one hurricane at a time and without naming them, we could get confused and which storm we're talking about.

For hundreds of years, hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the particular saint's day on which the hurricane occurred. An Australian meteorologist began giving women's names to tropical storms before the end of the 19th century. In 1953, the U.S. National Weather Service, which is the federal agency that tracks hurricanes and issues warnings and watches, began using female names for storms.

So who decides what names are used each year? The World Meteorological Organization uses six lists in rotation. The same lists are reused every six years. The only time a new name is added is if a hurricane is very deadly or

costly. Then the name is retired and a new name is chosen.

Different lists of names are used for hurricanes in different regions. Different regions have different rules (for example, Atlantic hurricane names skip the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z, while Australian region hurricane names also avoid these letters generally but sometimes substitute a name beginning with Q for a name beginning with P, or a name beginning with U for one beginning with V, and the last name on the list may begin with a W, X, Y or Z.). If there are many hurricanes in a given season, the list of names for that year may "run out", in which case again different rules are followed. Atlantic storms begin using the Greek alphabet; Australian storms start over and reuse earlier names.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Why Americans give girly names to the hurricanes?

Not all US hurricanes are named after women, Andrew, Hugo, Mitch, Ivan, and Charlie were devastating hurricanes named after men. Additionally, the United States does not name its hurricanes. They are named by the World Meteorological Organization, which is comprised of over 100 countries.


Are hurricanes named after national service?

no


Who named the hurricanes?

Hurricane Andrew


By what process are hurricanes named?

Currently hurricanes are named by the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. They have 6 lists kept in rotation that are used to name any hurricanes that happen during the year.


Are hurricanes named in alphabetical order?

yes


Are black holes named like hurricanes?

no


Was there ever a hurricane name Lilly?

There were four hurricanes named Lili, in 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002. There were three hurricanes named Lily in 1967, 1971, and 1975. Lili was used for storms in the Atlantic Ocean; Lily was used for hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. No hurricanes have been named Lilly by that spelling.


Has there been a hurricane named Ryan?

No. There have only been three hurricanes or tropical storms with names starting with R: Roxanne, Rita, and Richard. Hurricanes are named in alphabetical order and it is rare for there to be enough storms to get to R.


How are hurricanes identified and named?

By the speed and force of the wind


Is there a hurricane Kennedy?

No. Hurricanes are not named using surnames.


Can two hurricanes be named the same thing?

yes it can


Are hurricanes named the national weather service?

yes