Bring it Gert

Source: tumblr.com via Mo on Pinterest

I saw recently that that NOAA has published the hurricane names for this coming hurricane season. I'm always intrigued by the names and the logic behind it. According to their website:
Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.
Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The original name lists featured only women's names. In 1979, men's names were introduced and they alternate with the women's names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2009 list will be used again in 2015. Here is more information about the history of naming hurricanes.
The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it.
The lists are re-cycled every six years, i.e., the 2011 list will be used again in 2017. Several names have been changed since the lists were created. Here is more information about retired hurricane names.
I took a gander through this year's names and frankly I'm excited to have some of these ones get used. Now, I know that hurricanes can be dangerous and costly and blah blah blah... but come on, its 1000% entertaining to watch the news crews get all pumped up about these storms. Living in a coastal community gives me the opportunity to watch these fools with my own eyes. Any time the wind starts to come from the east and a storm is on the radar, these characters throw on some fowl weather gear, duct tape a microphone to their hand, and let the wind try to blow them over. Its a wonder they don't just send super tiny women for the theatrics of it all.

Anyway. A few names I'm pumped about? Gert, Vince, and Tammy. Specifically Gert and Vince, I had to throw Tammy in there so the ladies wouldn't feel left out. Frankly I'm not sure if Gert is a boys name or a girls. They'll be hard pressed to avoid the Jersey Shore jokes when "Hurricane Vince" is coming. It just sounds like your twice removed Italian cousin trying to visit for the weekend at your beach house ...

I have been pining after a pair of Hunter rain boots and perhaps this coming hurricane season would be the perfect nudge.

Bring it. :)

No comments

Post a Comment

© WHAT JEN DOES • Theme by Maira G.