Do you know how hurricanes and tornadoes got their names?

You names Hurricanes and tornadoes play a critical role in communications and public warning during tropical storms. It is a practice that has evolved over the years to ensure efficiency and accuracy. But, after all, how are they chosen?

History of hurricane names

Photo: subjob/Getty Images Pro/Canva Pro

In the past, hurricanes were given names based on the date they occurred or a seemingly arbitrary alphabetical order. However, this approach has been improved over the years time.

Initially, hurricanes were named after saints who hit a particular area. Later, nomenclature became more flexible, with Australian meteorologist Clement L. Women’s names of Biblical origin are common.

In the United States, in 1953, hurricanes began to be given female names. In 1979, male names were reintroduced for storms in the eastern North Pacific. This distinction was standardized in 1980, when the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the US National Weather Service decided to switch between male and female names.

For each hurricane and tornado season, there is a predetermined list of names, with the exception of the letters U, Q, X, Y, and Z, which have been excluded due to their rarity in proper names. When this list is exhausted, the Greek alphabet is used, as observed in 2005 and 2020.

It is worth noting that the lists can be recycled every six years, unless a hurricane causes a very significant impact, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, whose names were withdrawn by the World Meteorological Organization out of respect for the affected communities.

Despite the similarities between tornadoes and tornadoes as weather phenomena, they receive different names depending on the region in which they form. In the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the northeastern Pacific, they are called hurricanes. In the Northwest Pacific Ocean, they are called hurricanes, while in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, they are classified as severe tropical cyclones.

The naming of these meteorological events is not just a matter of tradition; a tool Vital for public safety and mitigating the effects of natural disasters. A hurricane name can carry with it a legacy of devastation, and choosing these designations carefully is an essential part of preparing for and responding to these severe weather events.