by
Brooke Gold Hasson
| May 21, 2015
Tropical Storm Ana surprised many meteorologists by making landfall nearly three weeks before the start of hurricane season. The first named storm of the season, Ana came ashore at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and set a record for the earliest a
tropical storm has made landfall so far north.
The nation’s top hurricane tracking experts predicted that the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season would be one of the least active seasons since the middle of the 20th century. Colorado State University forecasted
7 named storms, 3 total hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, while North Carolina State University projected
4-6 named storms, 1-3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane.
| | Named Storms | Total Hurricanes | Major Hurricanes |
Colorado State
University Forecast | 7 | 3 | 1 |
North Carolina State
University Forecast | 4-6 | 1-3 | 1 |
Was T.S. Ana an abnormality or an indicator that the 2015 hurricane season will be more active than the experts projected?
Despite this year’s below average forecast, remember that it only takes a single hurricane to cause extensive damage. You must prepare for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.
What’s in a (Hurricane) Name?
For hundreds of years, hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the particular saint’s day on which they took place.
At the end of the 19th century, an Australian meteorologist began assigning women’s names to tropical storms, and this trend continued through the 20th century.
It wasn’t until 1979 that both men and women’s names were included on the Atlantic storm list.
Every year, the World Meteorological Organization follows a strict procedure to determine tropical storm names.
2015 Storm Names
Ana
Bill
Claudette
Danny
Erika
Fred
Grace
Henri
Ida
Joaquin
Kate
Larry
Mindy
Nicholas
Odette
Peter
Rose
Sam
Teresa
Victor
Wanda
What Florida Hurricane Are You?
Click here to find out.
