Come on Irene

Hurricanes on a first name basis...

According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) the first use of a proper name for a tropical cyclone was by an Australian forecaster early in the 20th century. He gave tropical cyclone names after political figures whom he disliked. By properly naming a hurricane, the weatherman could publicly describe a politician as 'causing great distress' or 'wandering aimlessly about the Pacific.'

Later, during World War II, US Army Air Corp and Navy meteorologists named Pacific storms after their girlfriends or wives, just like pilots had done with their fighter planes

From 1950 to 1952, tropical cyclones, including hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean, were identified by the standard radio names (Able, Baker, Charlie), but in 1953 the US Weather Bureau switched back to women's names. Then, in a politically correct move in 1979, the WMO and the US National Weather Service (NWS) added men's names.

Choosing names for cyclonic events, like hurricanes, that are potential international disasters takes the work of an international group. A committee of the World Meteorological Organization approves names for these storms. There are six lists of hurricane names. The names are reused every six years. Variations are made to the list only in the event of a particularly devastating hurricane. In that case, the name will be removed from the sequence. Katrina, for example, has been retired.

Here is the list for the 2011: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rena, Sean, Tammy, Vince, and Whitney.