Meaning of Alpha, Alpha, Alpha

[Steamboatin]

No it is not a medical emergency.

 

It will be the name of the next hurricane.:D

[beth4652]

With more than a month to go in "hurricane season" it's not out of the question.

[AuntieBon]

OK, explain this to me. The hurricane will be named Alpha or will it be a name that starts with the greek letter alpha?

 

Wouldn't that be like calling the current hurricane "W" instead of Wilma?

[ladycaveat]

I have a question . . . when did they start calling Tropical Storms by name? I think we are at "W" because more than half the names slated for hurricanes were given to storms that never actually became hurricanes . . . ?

[beth4652]

According to the National Hurrican Center, the first time a name was used for a story was in Walt Disney's "Storm." The list that we use now was begun in 1953 and is comprised of a six year rotation. All storms had female names until 1979. Thirty-seven names have been retired. 2005 is only the second time all names have been used. If there is another hurricane this year, it's name will be Alpha. If you google National Hurrican Center, you will find a wealth of information.

[hipquest]

Once it becomes a Tropical STORM it is named, tropical storm/hurricane names are retired if they cause death/destruction. Alpha does come from the Greek alphabet, a "back-up" naming system. For more info on hurricanes, tropical storms, etc. go to http://www.noaa.gov .

[Steamboatin]

The next tropical storms will be:

 

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

Delta

Epsilon

Zeta

Eta

Theta

Iota

Kappa

Lambda

Mu

Nu

Xi

Omicron

Pi

Rho

Sigma

Tau

Upsilon

Phi

Chi

Psi

Omega

 

Lets all hope we do not need them all are we shall be in for a heap of trouble.

[Steamboatin]

History has been made with the naming of Tropical Storm Alpha.

 

This year is the most named tropical storms and hurricanes on record.

 

Also the most Category 5 hurricanes in one season with 3 thus far this year.

 

With over 5 weeks to go in this hurricane season so more can still happen.

[Vampire Parrot]

If we ever do have a hurricane season with so many tropical storms that the entire Greek alphabet is used, then it will be rather ironic that one cruise line has the Greek letter Chi so prominantly displayed on it's ships! :eek:

 

(Hint : it's a cruise line that was started by a Greek shipping family....)

 

...James

[Rachelle]

Poor Celebrity...