Astro's Blog

I was wundering what was up with this naming of the winter weather systems thing. They use these names on local news now too. Seems kind of silly.

Here is the episode of WeatherBrains which Brian Norcross is a guest and talks about naming winter storms. Watch till the end, the guys discuss it after Brian leaves.

Given your harsh rebuttal in chat, I'll ask more clearly here...

"what is in a name?"

- If this is one of your many bases for your argument against The Weather Channel naming winter storms, then surely you must be against hurricanes being named, right? It's just a name, right?

Quoting Astrometeor:


Okay, okay, calm down there buddy. I am sorry.

On the question: no, I am not against the naming of tropical cyclones, those are (how to phrase) more personified I guess in the world today. Plus, weren't they named because there are often more than one tropical cyclones at once? To avoid confusion in discussion, correct?

Now winter storms, on the other hand, are more of what I consider regular occurrences and are WAY less of a threat to the interests of the United States and so do not need to be named.

Otherwise the slope will bring us to naming everything, floods, tornadoes, sunny days, whatever you like. Bit hyperbolic, but I believe the point is addressed.

Now, Cody, if you believe otherwise, that's fine, but I am mainly stating what I see in this.

I believe otherwise...
There have been those extreme winter storms that really impact the United States in negative ways. I think a name would give more awareness to a storm, especially if it will be extremely bad. I do support the idea of naming winter storms. Do I think the current system is perfect, of course not. I think there should be some changes in criteria and the names themselves. However, I don't think naming winter storms would lead to the naming of other weather events. No hard feelings though, Astro.

Hi Astro, and others posting on this topic - as I can agree with some points from all. But just to briefly touch on the subject, here's a good example of issues in the naming scheme in two events that occurred this month over the Gulf South, particularly over TX, LA and MS.

The most destructive system to impact the area so far threatening loss of life and affecting property was not named as lacked Winter cold and associated components to classify as such, occurring under warm regime - yet, extremely heavy rainfall and severe flooding, tornadoes, wind damage all resulted from multi-day event between Jan 8-11... While the one that was named (lol, don't remember it's name now) on Jan 15-17 featured some frz rain / caution for drivers and brief, light icing but essentially was more a short-lived novelty snowfall event centered over MS with little consequence as a serious "threat" (although some hvy amts later reported over Appalachian Mts).

I'll remember both events, but what's in a name?
Not much in this example.

Here, that's my fav part

Hi Astrometeor,

I have been very busy with the weather, and was traveling, and dealt with a laptop which died, and am finally catching up ...

Thank you for posting this response to our exchange of comments via Dr. Masters' blog. I appreciate your thoughts, and I am well aware that many people have had a negative reaction to TWC naming winter storms.

My original point remains valid, which was simply that your statement, context notwithstanding, of "The NWS doesn't like it, for good reason. naming storms that just cause annoyance and not destruction is a horrible idea" was specious, since the NWS, as I noted at the time and TropicalAnalystwx13 alludes to here, names many tropical cyclones that don't cause destruction.

And while winter storms generally do not bring the type of devastation that tropical cyclones are capable of, they can cause destruction (e.g. severe coastal flooding from the Blizzard of '78 in New England), and the number one cause of weather-related fatalities is not hurricanes or tornadoes or heat, it's vehicular accidents caused by snowy, icy, or wet roads.

In regard to the history of naming tropical cyclones, while, as stated on the National Hurricane Center's page about it, "The use of easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time" (and BTW, not all of TWC's named winter storms have had considerable time between them), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which is responsible for maintaining the lists of names of tropical cyclones, says in its historical background on t.c. naming, "The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago in order to help in the quick identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Many agree that appending names to storms makes it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones, heightens interest in warnings and increases community preparedness."

Thanks Astro...

Quoting Astrometeor:


You are welcome? This post is really old Max. lol

don't ask me...I just clicked on a random blog of yours to write that...

Quoting Astrometeor:


Hey, I am your friend and friends help each other out; no need to thank me for it. I always stand by my friends and you are one, so I stand by you.

;)

I like that Astro, . ..did you get my e-mail btw.?.
typed it overnight after I came from church