2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Running Thread

Crosspost:

 

NOAA’s new hurricane outlook shows so many storms, we may have to turn to the Greek alphabet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weat...-stories_hurricanes-1215pm:homepage/story-ans


"The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already set records for being so active, with Hurricane Isaias being the earliest ninth named storm on record. Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting that many more records may fall in the coming months, as the Atlantic hurricane season cranks out at least 10 more named storms.

The updated outlook released Thursday calls for a total of 19 to 25 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 7 to 11 are expected to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including three to six that could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). This update covers the entire hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30, and therefore includes the nine named storms to date."

 

Ugh. 2020 just continues to disappoint.

 

I'll ask because maybe there's a more obvious reason but -- are there so few names starting with Q, U, X, Y and Z that they don't even try for Atlantic storms?

Take Z. Eastern North Pacific's six-year rotation just rotates between Zeke and Zelda. There's plenty of Zs to use -- Zoey, Zach/Zachary, Zion, Zane, Zander, Zola, Zora, Zuri as just in cases if you got down that far.

 

I understand they don't since they aren't on the list, but is there a reason they don't, beyond will there are so few names they can use.

 

But on a good note...

 

It doesn't really explain it here, unfortunately. But some cool history.

Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names

 

There are so few seasons that get down past P that it should only take a handful of names to rotate among those odd letters. And really, not even that. Back when the naming convention started parents were still naming their kids Bill and Jane.

Q — Quinn, Queenie, Quincy, Quella, Quinton, Quintessa

U — Ursula, Urban, Unity, Uwe, Uma, Uriah [Urban should bring this board to a screeching halt]

X — Xavier, Xena, Xavion, Xenia, Xerxes, Xochitl [my fave]

Y — Yancy, Yasmin, Yuri, Yvette, Yusuf, Yvonne

Z — Zoey, Zach, Zelda, Zane, Zola, Zander

EDIT: TWC has appropriated a number of these off-alphabet names already for their dopey Winter Storm taxonomy.

 

A legion of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fans approve of this post.

 

Including my sister-in-law who named her son Xander.