Since the 1950s, hurricanes have been named. So, why is the same not done for winter storms?

In fact, the practice of naming weather events has been around for centuries. Storms are usually named based on their geographical location, the date, saints, or other factors they affect.

The Weather Channel has been naming major snowstorms for 13 years, setting it apart from other weather organizations. They believe this naming strategy boosts public awareness and social media engagement around these winter systems, even as competitors like AccuWeather and the federal government remain indifferent or against the practice.

‘No intentions to reconsider’

In a recent email to YSL News regarding this matter, the National Weather Service stated: “The National Weather Service does not name winter storms and currently has no plans to start. Unlike tropical storms, winter storms encompass a variety of changing conditions throughout their development. That’s why our forecasts, alerts, and warnings emphasize the specific impacts like wind, snowfall, ice, temperature, and visibility.”

“Winter storm impacts can differ significantly over a broad area, from one community to another. It’s crucial for people to comprehend how a storm will affect them in their specific location or when traveling,” the weather service explained.

What is the reasoning behind the Weather Channel naming winter storms?

The Weather Channel explains that they name significant winter storms that bring heavy snow and/or ice to one or more regions across the country.

This approach is intended to enhance awareness about the dangers of winter storms, such as hazardous driving conditions, risks of power outages, and potential tree damage. “This is akin to the original intent behind naming tropical storms and hurricanes starting in the mid-20th century,” they stated.

However, “pure arctic cold snaps and lake-effect snowstorms are not given names.”

One notable winter storm that has gained media attention was Winter Storm Nemo in 2013, although such instances seem to be rare.

Does it truly make a difference if storms are named?

A study from 2017 – reportedly the latest on this subject – concluded that whether a storm is named does not significantly affect public awareness. People are likely to monitor storms regardless of their names, or potentially even if they are unnamed. The lead researcher, Adam Rainear, suggested that the weather community might be “overthinking” the issue.

In a recent email, Rainear noted that, to the best of his knowledge, no new studies have been conducted since their 2017 research. “I would argue there’s a lack of evidence either supporting or opposing the naming of storms, but initiating a new program would ideally require some proof of its potential usefulness, which currently seems to be lacking,” he communicated via email.

The findings from the 2017 study were published in the peer-reviewed journal Weather, Climate and Society by the American Meteorological Society.

What does AccuWeather think?

According to AccuWeather, naming winter storms can lead to confusion, rather than providing essential safety information and planning guidance to the public. “Our longstanding assessment has found no advantages for users of weather forecasts regarding the initiative brought forth by The Weather Channel,” stated the company in 2012, and they confirmed that this position remains unchanged.

“Winter storms can be unpredictable, impacting different locations unevenly,” AccuWeather explained. “Such storms can form, fade, and reform in multiple centers, sometimes causing snow in just one area while places not far away might experience rain, fog, or no precipitation at all. Consequently, people might not know what steps to take during a ‘named’ storm, or even take inappropriate actions.

“In contrast, severe winter conditions can often affect only small regions, as seen in lake-effect snow or freezing rain, which may not even be tied to any predicted storm center,” they noted. “Under the Weather Channel’s approach, these events might go unnamed despite their potential to cause significant harm.”

The rationale behind naming hurricanes

As stated by the National Hurricane Center, “evidence indicates that utilizing short, distinct names in both written and spoken communications minimizes errors and is faster than the previously used latitude-longitude methods. These benefits are vital in sharing detailed storm data among various stations, coastal bases, and vessels at sea.”

The hurricane center adds, “using easily memorable names significantly alleviates confusion during concurrent tropical storms. For instance, one hurricane might be moving slowly westward in the Gulf of Mexico while another could be rapidly advancing northward along the Atlantic coast at the same time.

“In the past, miscommunication and misinformation have occurred when storm updates from radio stations were misconstrued as warnings regarding a completely different storm situated hundreds of miles away.”