Question for fellow hurricane watchers

[Tiny]

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.

It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.

I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 


UPDATE:  I'm not the only one who's noticed the relative is a little erratic in their thinking (in more than just the weather). Concerns have now been voiced to those closest to the relative. those of us who noticed are the people who talk to the relative infrequently (so maybe once every month or two).





Growing old is not for the feint of heart. Caring for the elderly is not for the feint of heart.


 

[chiver78]

um, wow. 😳 I would question your relatives sanity, and I'm not joking. Hurricanes have been named for hundreds of years, and names have been retired here in the US for decades.

[Artemis Windsong]

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

[chiver78]

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

check your history there, storms have been named a lot longer than just 1950...

[billisonboard]

In the Atlantic Ocean, tropical storms that reach a sustained wind speed of 39 miles per hour are given a name, such as "Tropical Storm Fran." If the storm reaches a sustained wind speed of 74 miles per hour, it is called a hurricane - such as "Hurricane Fran." So, hurricanes are not given names, tropical storms are given names, and they retain their name if they develop into a hurricane. geology.com/hurricanes/hurricane-names.shtml

And it isn't the US government that names them:

Now, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) generates and maintains the list of hurricane names. earthsky.org/earth/how-do-hurricanes-get-their-names/

[Artemis Windsong]

That's what a quick search came up with.

[billisonboard]

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

The 6 year thing is names are not reused within a 6 year period plus names of storms of significance are permanently retired.

[Artemis Windsong]

The Midwest doesn't get any storm names even when there is hurricane force winds.

[Pink Cashmere]

Sept 24, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.



It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.



I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 

 

Well, people in the US do travel internationally. I think it’s good to know that a hurricane is headed to somewhere I am planning to travel to in the same time frame, so I can make decisions about whether I think it’s safe to still take my trip at that time. 

I don’t care whether the storm has a name or not, the name would be the least of my concerns if I was or would be in the path of a hurricane, in the US or somewhere else.

[chiver78]

Sept 24, 2022 17:51:13 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

That's what a quick search came up with.

and this is why a quick search isn't necessarily truth. I am from the East Coast, and I grew up with stories about all of the "big ones" that were named storms
what is new, though - naming winter Nor'easters. that's weird.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Isn’t winter storm naming relatively new?

[weltschmerz]

Sept 24, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.



It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.



I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 

 

It made my head hurt, too.

[weltschmerz]

Sept 24, 2022 17:55:11 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

The 6 year thing is names are not reused within a 6 year period plus names of storms of significance are permanently retired.

Well, at least they're not all named after women anymore.

[NoNamePerson]

Been thru a few that were bad enough to have names retired. Now if my fair city gets in the cone and it's a 2 or 3 Cat I go into my HN plan immediately. Rode out a 4 long ago and that cured me from hanging around  

Will admit that I got confused the first time I heard a winter storm name being announced on the weather channel.  Caught myself looking toward the Gulf to see if anything was amiss

[chiver78]

Sept 24, 2022 18:14:51 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Isn’t winter storm naming relatively new?

winter? yes. 5y, at best.

[Tiny]

Sept 24, 2022 17:24:48 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

um, wow. 😳 I would question your relatives sanity, and I'm not joking. Hurricanes have been named for hundreds of years, and names have been retired here in the US for decades.

They seem to be saying that ONLY the storms that threaten the US (or I guess inhabited island/land) get a name.    So if a storm spins up in the Atlantic and wanders around over open water before dissipating - it doesn't get a name... it's just some storm that no one cares about.    But, I'm pretty sure they get names - I've seen these kinds of storms/hurricanes in the past and I'm pretty sure if they were the 7th storm of the season they got the 7th name on the list.   

My relative is saying that since it was just out in the ocean and that no one on land cared about it - it was just the X numbered storm - it wouldn't get the X numbered name.  

And they were ANGRY that storms were getting names - because that makes it seems like the storms are a threat (and therefor scares people).   

And I'm like "Ow, that's hurting my brain." 

[Tiny]

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

My relative was like - why all the fuss about Fiona?? why did it get a name?  it didn't effect us.  It's stupid to name the storm!  It just got Americans all scared and upset.    

And I was like - I bet the Canadians effected by it cared about it.    

[Tiny]

An example of what my relative is complaining about would be Hurricane Danielle (2022).  It didn't make landfall and it didn't really do any damage...   but it got a Name.  And according to my relative - if this storm had happened before 2021 - it NEVER would have gotten a name or made the news... it was a non-event.   


And again, this makes my brain hurt - I've been watching hurricanes for 12 years and when storms meet the criteria they get numbered and named.    My relative was like  oh no, that's not how it worked in the past. This is something new according my relative.      


Is this some sort of a Florida conspiracy theory or something that's been on the TV??   


Ok, maybe my relatives cognitive functions are starting to slip... that could be it.  My other siblings have said stuff about the weird ideas this relative has voiced in the last couple of years....  hmmmm.   

[tallguy]

Sept 24, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.



It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.



I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 

 

No.  Storms would get a description but not necessarily a name.  For example, Tropical Depression 9 is the storm that has now been renamed Tropical Storm Ian.  It will soon be renamed again as Hurricane Ian if it has not been already.  Naming of storms happens when there is the possibility and likelihood of creating adverse weather effects on land areas.  The naming of storms began because it was considered to be easier for the public to track them by name, rather than trying to differentiate and track between a number of similarly described (named) storms.  For the uninformed masses to tell the difference between Hurricane 9, Tropical Storm 10, and Tropical Depression 11 (with those names changing if they strengthened) would be far too confusing.  

That does not mean that your relative is NOT a complete moron, by the way....

[Tennesseer]

Sept 24, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.



It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.



I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 

 

I grew up in Massachusetts. The earliest hurricane I can remember and experienced was Diane in 1955. We knew it was called Diane. And my parents and others were still talking about Hurricane Carol which struck New England in 1954. I remember to TV calling at lest Dianne by name.

[billisonboard]

Sept 24, 2022 20:18:40 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Sept 24, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I've been happily watching Hurricane season from a distance for 12 years now.   And I swear anytime a storm spun up no matter where it was - it would get a "name"  even if it reached the criteria for a hurricane name - even for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean - it got a name.    It might not make the news but it got a name.      

And since this hurricane season is so weird - I can see the local news reporting on the weird storms that aren't directly effecting the US and using the name assigned to the storm(s).  

My relative is claiming that the reporting on and the naming of these storms is some evil plot.   That this NEVER happened in the past. 

Am I crazy?  Didn't the storms in past years get "named" even if they didn't make the news??      I can't seem to find any info on this... but I swear the storms got numbers and names even if they weren't going to effect the US... 


Here's some more info about my relative: 
A relative (who lives in Florida and who I love dearly) was upset that tropical depressions/storms and hurricanes that wouldn't effect Florida - had NAMES and that the storms were making the news. Storms that weren't going to effect the US shouldn't have names and shouldn't be talked about on the news - because that "scares" people. And they finished up with an implication that these non-consequential storms were being named is something that has happened recently. Just two years ago this wasn't being done - and it's obviously a political ploy to name ALL the storms of any size.



It took me a while to get the above train of thought out of my very angry relative. Apparently someone is using the mere fear of hurricanes to rile up the voter base. I couldn't figure out if it was a Republican plot or a Democrat plot but I have a feeling it's liberal democrat plot.



I don't really care about the politics.   I'm just wondering if I had it all wrong all these years... that storms that aren't going to effect the US don't need to have a name... and shouldn't be reported on because Americans on the Coasts shouldn't be "frightened"....     

OK, my head hurts. 

 

No.  Storms would get a description but not necessarily a name.  For example, Tropical Depression 9 is the storm that has now been renamed Tropical Storm Ian.  It will soon be renamed again as Hurricane Ian if it has not been already.  Naming of storms happens when there is the possibility and likelihood of creating adverse weather effects on land areas.  The naming of storms began because it was considered to be easier for the public to track them by name, rather than trying to differentiate and track between a number of similarly described (named) storms.  For the uninformed masses to tell the difference between Hurricane 9, Tropical Storm 10, and Tropical Depression 11 (with those names changing if they strengthened) would be far too confusing.  

That does not mean that your relative is NOT a complete moron, by the way....

In the Atlantic Ocean, tropical storms that reach a sustained wind speed of 39 miles per hour are given a name, such as "Tropical Storm Fran."  geology.com/hurricanes/hurricane-names.shtml

[chiver78]

Sept 24, 2022 19:35:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Sept 24, 2022 17:24:48 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

um, wow. 😳 I would question your relatives sanity, and I'm not joking. Hurricanes have been named for hundreds of years, and names have been retired here in the US for decades.

They seem to be saying that ONLY the storms that threaten the US (or I guess inhabited island/land) get a name.    So if a storm spins up in the Atlantic and wanders around over open water before dissipating - it doesn't get a name... it's just some storm that no one cares about.    But, I'm pretty sure they get names - I've seen these kinds of storms/hurricanes in the past and I'm pretty sure if they were the 7th storm of the season they got the 7th name on the list.   

My relative is saying that since it was just out in the ocean and that no one on land cared about it - it was just the X numbered storm - it wouldn't get the X numbered name.  

And they were ANGRY that storms were getting names - because that makes it seems like the storms are a threat (and therefor scares people).   

And I'm like "Ow, that's hurting my brain." 

this specifically is what's making me suggest your relative get screening for dementia. this is irrational, and it sounds abnormal for your relative from the rest of your posts. hugs, Tiny.

[Tennesseer]

Sept 24, 2022 17:59:25 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

The Midwest doesn't get any storm names even when there is hurricane force winds.

We had a derecho hit here in Memphis in July, 2003. It was nickname Hurricane Elvis. Did quite a bit of damage. Power was out for some up to two weeks. The National Weather Service refers to the storm as the "Mid South Derecho of 2003".

[Tennesseer]

Sept 24, 2022 19:35:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Sept 24, 2022 17:24:48 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

um, wow. 😳 I would question your relatives sanity, and I'm not joking. Hurricanes have been named for hundreds of years, and names have been retired here in the US for decades.

They seem to be saying that ONLY the storms that threaten the US (or I guess inhabited island/land) get a name.    So if a storm spins up in the Atlantic and wanders around over open water before dissipating - it doesn't get a name... it's just some storm that no one cares about.    But, I'm pretty sure they get names - I've seen these kinds of storms/hurricanes in the past and I'm pretty sure if they were the 7th storm of the season they got the 7th name on the list.   

My relative is saying that since it was just out in the ocean and that no one on land cared about it - it was just the X numbered storm - it wouldn't get the X numbered name.  

And they were ANGRY that storms were getting names - because that makes it seems like the storms are a threat (and therefor scares people).   

And I'm like "Ow, that's hurting my brain." 

If a storm reaches tropical storm status as it wanders around the Atlantic Ocean but no threat to land, it is still given a name.

[Tennesseer]

Sept 24, 2022 19:37:46 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

My relative was like - why all the fuss about Fiona?? why did it get a name?  it didn't effect us.  It's stupid to name the storm!  It just got Americans all scared and upset.    

And I was like - I bet the Canadians effected by it cared about it.    

Tell your relative the world does not revolve around him, her or it.

[tallguy]

Sept 24, 2022 17:44:20 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

1950 is when it started but there was a reference to one being named in 1938. 

These storms are named around the world. 

Tropical depressions have a different naming system that is used every 6th year.

Ooops, I forgot the why.  Like now, Fiona is battering eastern Canada.  Another storm is headed toward FL.  To keep track of where they are and which one is being talked about.

And some people get to experience both of those.  My GF leaves next week for several weeks in eastern Canada.  Shortly after she gets back, she leaves for several months in Florida.  Hoping that Fiona doesn't ruin her travel plans or arrangements and that everything is both open and working, and that Ian does not destroy her house there.  She should be fairly safe, but you never know until it's over. 

[pulmonarymd]

Your relative is an idiot. But since so few American care about events outside the US, I am not surprised by this take

[weltschmerz]

Fiona battered Canada's east coast pretty well. We even lost power in Montreal from the winds.

atlantic.ctvnews.ca/in-pictures-post-tropical-storm-fiona-batters-the-maritimes-1.6082731

[busymom]

You mean the world doesn't revolve around Florida?  I mean, even Trump owns a place there.  I am SHOCKED I tell you, SHOCKED...  

[weltschmerz]

Sept 24, 2022 23:18:32 GMT -5 busymom said:

You mean the world doesn't revolve around Florida?  I mean, even Trump owns a place there.  I am SHOCKED I tell you, SHOCKED...  

Funny how the hurricanes never touch Mar-A-Lardo.