Who Names Hurricanes?
Quick Answer
The World Meteorological Organization names hurricanes. A six-year rotation of male and female names is used for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, although if one storm causes so much damage or loss of life that using it again would be traumatic, the organization replaces it, according to NOAA.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
The process of naming hurricanes began in 1953, when the United States started using female names for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1978, both male and female names went into use for typhoons, or storms in the Pacific Ocean. In 1979, male names entered use for Atlantic storms as well.
With each successive storm, the list moves through the alphabet, so the first storm for a year would begin with the letter A, the second with the letter B and so on. Only 21 letters have enough names to work in the rotation, but if one season has more than 21 named hurricanes or tropical storms, the system moves to the letters of the Greek alphabet in order, as stated by NOAA.
Learn more about StormsRelated Questions
-
Q:
Which Is More Dangerous, Tornadoes or Hurricanes?
A: The relative danger of hurricanes and tornadoes depends on the situation. While hurricanes are more destructive to large communities, tornadoes are less pr... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why Do We Have Hurricanes?
A: Hurricanes form over warm ocean water when the air is cooler above. Winds must be at the surface of the ocean and spiral air inward for the hurricane to fo... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Causes Hurricanes?
A: Hurricanes are formed by rain clouds that grow over warm ocean waters. The clouds build to create wind speeds higher than 74 miles per hour. While tornadoe... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How Do Hurricanes Move?
A: Hurricanes are blown around the planet by the prevailing global winds. When a hurricane forms in the Atlantic Ocean, it comes together in a band of winds c... Full Answer >Filed Under:
