How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Posted on August 31, 2012 by RSMAS

Isaac, Kirk, and Lesile, oh my! As hurricane season is ramping up to its peak, all those storms swirling around in the Atlantic can get confusing. To help stop this confusion, we name tropical storms and hurricanes to more easily and clearly communicate information about them (we use numbers for tropical depressions). However, this was not always the case.

Back in the day, hurricanes were referred to by their position (latitude-longitude) or in some cultures, named after saints. This was not only hard to communicate, but confusing to the public about warnings. Thus after World War II, the navy began flying into the storms and referred to them by the international phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog…and my personal favorite, Love) from 1950-1952. In 1953, it was decided that the storms would be named by women’s names. This was a common military practice when speaking about ships and planes, so it was carried on. The storm naming responsibility landed in the hands of the National Hurricane Center until 1977, when they relinquished naming rights to a regional naming committee with the World Meteorological Organization.

It wasn’t until 1979 that the current naming procedure was put into place. The committee decided to have 6 revolving lists of names that would repeat. These names include both male and female names that alternate and that are common in English, Spanish, or French speaking cultures. This means that the current list of storm names for the 2012 season will be repeated in 2018. The names are in alphabetic order with the “A” name used for the first storm of that year, even if it forms before the official start of hurricane season on June 1st or if the previous season did not use all the names on the list. The storm alphabet excludes the letters Q, U, X, Y, Z (how many names can you think of with those letters?). In the uniquely hyperactive seasons (let’s say 2005) when all the names in the storm alphabet are used, names are given following the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma…).

The only exception for these names is when a storm has a significant enough impact that it would be inappropriate to continue using the name. That name is then retired. Some notable retired names are Andrew (1992) and Katrina (2005). When this happens, the committee meets to discuss and replace the name on the list.

My guess is that there will be no Isaac in 2018, so we will have a new “I” name to enter the list rotation. Any guesses on what the new name will be? Leave your guess in the comments.

-Angela Colbert
Meteorology & Physical Oceanography
Graduate Student
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Life as a Student During Hurricane Andrew

Posted on August 24, 2012 by RSMAS

I knew graduate school was going to be an adventure for me, but I never could have predicted that my life would completely change after my first week in south Florida! I was accepted to start in the Rosenstiel School’s (RSMAS) Marine Geology & Geophysics (MGG) graduate program for Fall 1992. I was born in Massachusetts, raised in Connecticut, and completed my undergraduate degree in Pennsylvania. The thought of moving to Miami for the next six years of my life had me nervous and excited, as I packed all I could in my Chevy Cavalier and headed down I-95 in mid-August.

I arrived on Key Biscayne with a week to spare before orientation was to begin, and one of the Marine Science Graduate Student Organization (MSGSO) officers let me sleep on his couch in a house with other RSMAS students. I spent the week looking at apartments with another new MGG student. We hadn’t found a place that week, which was probably a good thing – Hurricane Andrew was set to descend on south Florida.

The day before the official evacuation notice, we hit the road and escaped the University of Miami to … the University of Florida! We stayed in the graduate student zoology house for a week, trying to get news about what was happening in south Florida, and completely unsure of what was next for us. I had been through a few nor’easters in my time, but had no idea what to expect when, after spending a week in Gainsville, we heard that classes were going to start ON TIME at the University. So we had to head back. Back to … the same couch I was sleeping on before, because of the kindness of my MSGSO host.

But this time, while sleeping on a couch with my life’s belongings in my car, I was attending my first graduate courses. The adjustment to living in a hurricane-stricken area was a challenge. Having only been in Miami for a week, it was interesting trying to drive around the city to find stores that were open and had items stocked in their shelves. Academically, there were some amazing opportunities post-hurricane. My classes went to the Everglades and snorkeling in the Keys to assess the damage to the reefs and overall environment. But there was also a reminder of how serious the situation still was. The campus library had cot beds and piles of clothing that I recall stepping over to pull down journal volumes. In fact, the university canceled final exams that semester, stating something along the lines that the students had suffered enough stress during the semester. I learned alot about disaster recovery and about myself during this time.

My story has a happy ending. My friend and I were able to find a house on Key Biscayne to share with a couple of students from UM’s medical school. Sure, there was still no power in half the house, and the carpeting and roof needed to be replaced, but we finally had a place to call “home.” I continued taking courses with some amazing MGG faculty, and had incredible research and field experiences (I’ll always remember Dr. Larry Peterson seeing me in the hallways and in passing saying, “It’s Guertin for certain!”). That new MGG student I evacuated with? She’s my best friend for life. We were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings, actually – she married the MSGSO officer who offered me his couch when I didn’t have a home (he graduated from Marine Biology & Fisheries), and I married a Marine & Atmospheric Chemistry graduate. My husband and I visited the RSMAS campus and other sites of our old stomping grounds from our graduate school days over New Year’s earlier this year. The campus looks a little different, and some of the faculty and staff we knew are no longer at RSMAS. But no hurricane or other disaster will ever be able to take away the wealth of content knowledge, specialized skills sets, and amazing memories I have from my years in MGG at the Rosenstiel School.

Dr. Laura Guertin
Alumni Class of 1998 – Marine Geology & Geophysics
Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, Penn State Brandywine

South Florida Remembers: 20 Years After Hurricane Andrew

Posted on August 22, 2012 by RSMAS

For many of you who are new to Miami, you may not know much about a hurricane named Andrew that hit South Florida 20 years ago this Friday, August 24th. For those that were here, this was the storm that changed everything for the entire community. And for weather geeks around the world, Hurricane Andrew would become a turning point for scientific need and innovation, which in many ways has been answered.

On August 24, 1992, South Florida was shaken to its core when Category 5 Hurricane Andrew made landfall at around 5:00am. Andrew was only the third Category 5 to ever make landfall in the US in the past 100 years behind the 1935 Hurricane in the Florida Keys and 1969 Hurricane Camille in Louisiana. Andrew just 5 days earlier was nothing more than a weak tropical storm. However, by Sunday August 23rd, evacuations and hasty preparations were being made for “The Big One” to hit South Florida. Andrew was a small hurricane with its strongest winds in the eyewall only extending a few miles. Due to this, downtown Miami was mostly spared. Had Andrew made landfall just 15 miles north, the damage costs would have been more than doubled!

However, the city of Homestead was not so fortunate. The storm and its aftermath left the city completely devastated. Residents were not prepared for what they saw when daylight exposed Mother Nature’s power. The National Guard, Red Cross, and Salvation Army were on the scene immediately, to hand out emergency supplies and provisions. The US Army would arrive 10 days later to help keep the peace as survival instincts took over societal norms. With such complete destruction it is a remarkable testament to local news, county emergency management, and the National Hurricane Center that only 65 total deaths occurred during Andrew and its aftermath. The total damage was estimated to be $26.5 billion (1992USD) including damage in the Bahamas and Louisiana.

Twenty years later the memories for the survivors are still clear as day. For the South Florida community, Hurricane Andrew is one storm that will never be forgotten.

Do you have any stories of Hurricane Andrew you would like to share? Leave them in the comments below.

*To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, the Miami Science Museum is hosting a day of remembrance on August 25, 2012 from 11am until 5pm. Come explore the museum and be treated to the day’s special activities. For more information, please visit http://www.miamisci.org

RSMAS Blog

Tag Archives: Hurricane Andrew

How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Life as a Student During Hurricane Andrew

South Florida Remembers: 20 Years After Hurricane Andrew