Name that storm

Hello, Luna!

During the upcoming 2012-13 winter season The Weather Channel will name noteworthy winter storms. Our goal is to better communicate the threat and the timing of the significant impacts that accompany these events. The fact is, a storm with a name is easier to follow, which will mean fewer surprises and more preparation.  

Hurricanes and tropical storms have been given names since the 1940s. In the late 1800s, tropical systems near Australia were named as well. Weather systems, including winter storms, have been named in Europe since the 1950s.  Important dividends have resulted from attaching names to these storms:

• Naming a storm raises awareness. [because the actual freezing rain and snow isn't enough.]
• Attaching a name makes it much easier to follow a weather system’s progress. [again, the actual freezing rain and snow isn't enough.]
• A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own, which adds to awareness. [um. repetitive. also, see above regarding awareness.]
• In today’s social media world, a name makes it much easier to reference in communication. ["It's snowing really hard!" is so much more difficult to type than "Luna's making it snow really hard!"]
• A named storm is easier to remember and refer to in the future. [because who doesn't want to remember the time you got into that 15-car pile-up on the interstate?]