With this storm brewing in the Gulf our thoughts turn to Hurricane Season and the list of named Storms for this year. Don’t be surprised if this year’s list of Atlantic hurricane names sounds familiar. Except for three replacements, many of the same names blew through during 2007 in one of the most severe seasons ever when measured by property damage.
Noel, Felix and Dean have been retired after producing a combined total of nearly 350 storm-related deaths six years ago, mostly in the Caribbean. They were replaced by Fernand, Nestor and Dorian, joining 18 others on the list.
The World Meteorological Organization rotates six lists of hurricane names in succession, retiring and replacing the names of the deadliest and most destructive storms (called cyclones and typhoons in other parts of the world). See the complete list from ABC.
Update 6/5/13 at 5:05 PM from Montgomery Advertiser: Forecasters say the first named storm of Atlantic season, Tropical Storm Andrea, has formed over the Gulf of Mexico. A news release from the National Hurricane Center in Miami says a reconnaissance aircraft spotted a well-defined area of circulation over the central Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. The center released few other details about the storm but promised a full advisory later in the day.
Update 6/5/13 at 9:05 PM from Weather Channel: Gulf Coast and Orange Beach authorities say Tropical Storm Andrea has forced them to rescue more than a dozen swimmers.Gulf Shores City Spokesman Grant Brown tells AL.com (http://bit.ly/12tr5QL) 10 people had to be rescued at the city’s beaches Wednesday afternoon as the storm gained strength. Most didn’t require hospitalization, but a 17-year-old boy was taken to the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile. Brown says he regained consciousness after CPR was administered.Orange Beach Safety Director Melvin Shepard says three people were rescued as the storm gained strength. He said rip currents in the sandbar to the beach had created rough currents. Authorities say red flags are likely to fly at the beaches until the storm system leaves the area.
From the Archives — originally published on the Opelika Daily News on June 5, 2013. View the original page.
