I saw a list of all the hurricane names for the next couple of years, and of course, I looked for my name. Not there. I tried to find out if there'd ever been a Hurricane Therese, but apparently not. However, there was a Hurricane Terry (my "nickname") back in 1985. I do not remember this, perhaps because it was in the Eastern Pacific, but more likely, because it occurred ten days after I gave birth to my daughter. I guess I had other things on my mind. But in a strange twist of fate, I named that firstborn daughter Katrina. And I think you know what happened twenty years later. In fact, Katrina was one of those storms that was so bad, the name has been permanently retired.
So who gets to pick out the names for these storms? The World Meteorological Organization, that's who. But hurricanes are not given names. Tropical storms are given names, and if they become hurricanes, they retain that name. And how does a tropical storm become a hurricane? It becomes one when it reaches a sustained wind speed of 74 miles per hour. So if your name is on a tropical storm that doesn't become a hurricane, do you get another shot at fame? Yes, names can be repeated after an interval of six years, unless, you know, Katrina . . .
Fair warning: if your name is Chris or Debby or Michael or Patty or Sara or Tony or William, you could become famous this year.
Meanwhile, I am hoping that Alberto's fame is limited. Right now, it's still a subtropical storm, but is expected to turn fully tropical by tomorrow. Alberto's chances of reaching hurricane strength are low, and it is expected to become a mere tropical depression by Monday night or Tuesday, just in time for me to head north. Umbrella, rain jacket, flood pants all packed and ready. Wish me luck.
Alberto, Alberto, where you been so long?
Um, waiting for this snowbird to head back home, I guess.
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