- Joined
- Jan 30, 2003
- Messages
- 6,010
- Reaction score
- 13
- Pronouns
- She/Her
A few interesting facts from the October 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine:
Tropical storms are named when they reach a sustained wind speed above 39 mph. Once wind speeds reach 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane (to the east of the International Date Line), a typhoon (to the west of the IDL), or a cyclone (Southern Hemisphere).
Using names to identify storms has been in practice since 1950. Storm centers worldwide have labeling plans. Each region has its own name lists. Names are re-used unless the storm was particularly devastating (2004's Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne were all retired). Instead of using people's names, however, the northwestern Pacific region opts for references to nature (example: Kaemi), emotions, or food.
So far, this year we've had: Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Phillipe, and Rita. Four other names may yet be used: Stan, Tammy, Vince, and Wilma. For 2006, we may have: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce and Kirk.
Since the storms are named alphabetically (excepting the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z), it's possible that they'll run out of names since the Atlantic region has had as many as 19 named tropical storms in a year. Frank Lepore of the National Hurricane Center in Miami says: "If we have more than 21 storms, we have bigger problems than what they are going to be named."
Tropical storms are named when they reach a sustained wind speed above 39 mph. Once wind speeds reach 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane (to the east of the International Date Line), a typhoon (to the west of the IDL), or a cyclone (Southern Hemisphere).
Using names to identify storms has been in practice since 1950. Storm centers worldwide have labeling plans. Each region has its own name lists. Names are re-used unless the storm was particularly devastating (2004's Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne were all retired). Instead of using people's names, however, the northwestern Pacific region opts for references to nature (example: Kaemi), emotions, or food.
So far, this year we've had: Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Phillipe, and Rita. Four other names may yet be used: Stan, Tammy, Vince, and Wilma. For 2006, we may have: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce and Kirk.
Since the storms are named alphabetically (excepting the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z), it's possible that they'll run out of names since the Atlantic region has had as many as 19 named tropical storms in a year. Frank Lepore of the National Hurricane Center in Miami says: "If we have more than 21 storms, we have bigger problems than what they are going to be named."