Naming Hurricanes

With all the hurricanes here in the US, I feel that this is an appropriate post. Probably something you will never need to know, but there you go...another random fact.


Have you ever wondered about the system used for naming hurricanes? Where did those names come from, anyway? Will we have to suffer through another "Hurricane Andrew"? The system is not that complicated.

Hurricanes used to be designated by a system of latitude-longitude, which was a great way for meteorologists to track them. However, once the public began receiving storm warnings and trying to keep track of a particular storm path, this got very confusing. A system of names to refer to them was much easier to track and remember.

In 1953, the National Weather Service picked up on the habit of Naval meteorologists of naming the storms after women. Ships were always referred to as female, and were often given women's names. The storms' temperament certainly seemed female enough, shifting directions at a whim on a moment's notice. In 1979, male names were inserted to alternate with the female names,to the delight of women's-libbers everywhere.

There are actually six lists of names in use for storms in the Atlantic. These lists rotate, one each year; the list of this year's names will not be reused until 2011. The names get recycled each time the list comes up, with one exception: storms so devastating that reusing the name is inappropriate. In this case, the name is taken off the list and another name is used to replace it; there will not be another Hurricane Andrew, because Andrew has been replace by Alex on the list. Although it will not be an issue for five more years, the names of Frances, Ivan and Jeanne will probably go into the history books in 2010.

A storm must start as a Tropical Depression and move on to become a Tropical Storm before it is given a name. Once a storm is named, preparations for the possible hurricane should be well under way. Without further ado, here is the list of hurricane names for 2005:


Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Phillipe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma

Courtesy of about.com

The Longest Ever

No, not the longest post ever, but the longest time since I've written something substancial. Sorry about that guys...

I'm having an awesome time here despite the fact that I don't have much breathing time due to crazy schedules. It's all good though. I thought I would be bored in small town Goshen, but really...I haven't been bored for a second since I've gotten here.

I'm taking five classes which are Marriage and Family, World History, Intro to Theater, Race and Equality and a Bible Lit class. I'm working two on campus jobs and I'm involved in a whole array of societies and clubs ranging from the Third Culture Society to the rock climbing club.

The people here are so much fun and I already have some jogging buddies with whom I go jogging every other evening. It's a good life here and I sort of wish I had come in as a freshman just cuz I would have more time here then. There's so much to say, so many pictures to show, etc...but I don't have the time now. I've got a whole bunch of reading to do but I thought that I really should drop a note here to tell people how I'm doing.

Well, ask me questions and I'll answer. Hope to hear from you all again.