You’ve probably noticed, we’re running out of letters for storms. We’re already at R. Last year we were just getting past D, but there have been a lot more named storms this year.
But we don’t use all the letters. There are only 21 that get used. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z don;t get used, because the World Meteorological Organization can’t find enough names to use them. There is a six year cycle, so they need three male and three female names with a few extras in case a name gets retired.
Apparently, the World Meteorological Organization has never heard of Google. I didn’t try all of them, but a quick search of Q brought up plenty of names that could be used. But they aren’t.
I’m not much of a Scrabble player, but I know a few. They are probably quite rightly horrified by the fact these people would just leave all those points on the table, but. okay.
But what happens when we run through the twenty-one letters we do use? We go to Greek. Storms start to get named after letters of the Greek alphabet.
I don’t know about you, but my Greek is pretty… well… no existent. I know alpha and beta, but after that I’m pretty much done. I know some of the others, but I’m never sure what order they go in.
I’m hoping I don’t have to find out.
