Hurricane Name Retirement

[mabfan]

It's being reported by the Associated Press that the World Meteorological Organization has officially retired five hurricane names from last year's season. Hurricane names are retired when a particular hurricance is so devastating that it would be inappropriate to reuse the name for another hurricane.

Katrina, of course, is on the list, given its status as the most devastating hurricane in recent memory and the one that almost destroyed New Orleans.

Dennis, Rita, Stan and Wilma are the other four hurricane names never to be used again.

The new names taking over those slots: Don, Katia, Rina, Sean and Whitney. They will enter the rotation in 2011.

Comments

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Having Katia and Rina almost seems an homage to Katrina.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Who can tell the ways of the WMO? My guess is that there's a whole argument made about name popularity, ethnic balance, etc. when they're making up the lists.

[delkytlar.livejournal.com]

Hurricane Sean? I hadn't met more than two other Sean's in the first 20 years of my life, but since 21, I've been tripping over the name. It's only taken another 19 years for it to be finally popular enough to make the list.

Of course, I'll put all my energy into praying this name need never be retired for such reasons as its predecessors.

[norda.livejournal.com]

Like Sean, I hope my name never has deadly associations. I cause enough trouble as it is.

[seborn.livejournal.com]

Oh, suddenly the lack of Q and U names makes more sense -- I was perplexed that they couldn't find three male and three female names for each, but if they had to retire Qs every so often it would become difficult.

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

According to Wikipedia, this is a record.

And apparently, the WMO is also retiring the entire Greek alphabet.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard about this. Tell me more!

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

My source.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Hurricane Whitney an episode of Being Bobby Brown? Ha ha ha I slay me!

[nojojojo.livejournal.com]

My friend named Katrina is delighted to hear this. ^^;;

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

So what do they use for the next 4 years?

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

The official lists are here:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Very interesting - thanks! I see you might have a chance at notoriety this year...