21
U.S. 2018 Billion-Dollar
Weather and Climate Disasters
This map denotes the approximate location for each of the 14 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that impacted the United States during 2018
HOW ARE HURRICANES NAMED?
Storms are named when they meet tropical storm status
(sustained winds at or greater than 39 mph. Before 1950 they
were named by location and year such as the 1933 Outer Banks
Hurricane. Then for a short period of time in 1951-52, Alpha,
Baker, Charlie, etc. was used but that wasn’t adequate to dif-ferentiate
yearly storms, so in 1953 using female names was
initiated. It wasn’t long, 1954, before one of the most infamous
of female-named hurricanes (Hazel) made landfall in Brunswick
County. This was the naming convention until 1978 when
alternating female and male naming was instituted. The names
are repeated every six years unless the storm/hurricane is particu-larly
destructive and/or deadly. In that case, the name is retired
and never used again. There are many “retirees” but examples
include Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey as well as ones that have
been destructive in North Carolina, including Hazel, Fran,
Floyd, Isabel, Irene and Matthew. Florence and Michael have
been retired as hurricane names from the 2019 season. Francine
will be used in 2024 instead of Florence and Milton in place
of Michael. The names are given by the World Meteorological
Organization.
REFERENCES Excellent discussion of maps, warnings, and hurricane facts:
• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnhcgraphics.shtml
• https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes (Department of Homeland Security)
• https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php (New Hanover County NOAA/NWS National Hurricane Center)
• https://www.nc211.org/hurricane-preparedness (North Carolina Hurricane Preparedness)
Roger D. Shew is a lecturer in the
Department of Earth and Ocean
Sciences and Environmental Sciences,
UNC Wilmington.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
Colorado Hail Storm
June 18-19