QOTD

[redbird]

There are no provisions for what to do in the event we have to retire Beta's name and replace it on the list of hurricane names. One possibility is that the storm will be dubbed Beta-2005 and the name Beta will be reused. Another possibilty is that Beta will be skipped over next time the Greek alphabet comes into use.—Jeff Masters

The question arises because Beta looks likely to turn into a hurricane and cause major destruction in Nicaragua and possibly Guatemala and El Salvador.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Guatemala and El Salvador have had quite enough!

[miwasatoshi.livejournal.com]

I don't think the Greek alphabet should be a permanent solution. It can't be too hard to (A) fill in the gaps of missing letters in the current system or (B) make more alternate names.

[orangemike.livejournal.com]

I'm with the B suggestion. Start a fresh set of alphabet names, and don't worry about it.

Or they could start with the Hebrew alphabet next time. Imagine the headlines:

Nun Menaces Miami!

[redbird]

There's always the Pacific approach: the lists are used up and then the next one started, rather than restarted each season. There aren't that many gaps in the current list: they could add Q, U, X, Y, and Z.

[ala-too.livejournal.com]

Could someone explain to me why it is so hard to come up with a second set of 26 names? There are thousands of names.

What is the process of choosing storm names? Do you know?

[trinker.livejournal.com]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml

(I'd synopsize, but there's a lot of good information on that page)