Most people I've spoken to about this have said quite loudly and clearly and unmistakably that this is a STUPID idea. Several reasons have been put forth, include it will contribute to hysteria, TWC is over-reacting, if they have time to come up with names then they clearly aren't doing their jobs or need more to do, it's a marketing ploy, they'll start naming rain showers next, the list goes on and on.
With this situation, though, I'm on TWC's side. I think naming winter storms is beneficial and I'm not sure why we haven't done it before to be honest. TWC's website has a few articles including the names for this year, and why this is a good idea. TWC also outlines the guidelines a storm must fufill to be named. They take into accounts things such as winds, amount of precipitation, chance of blizzard conditions, etc. Here is a link to their main article explaining the decision, but for your convenience I'll paste their main bulleted reasons here.
All of these points are perfectly sound. Let's take them one by one.Naming a storm raises awareness. Attaching a name makes it much easier to follow a weather system’s progress. A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own, which adds to awareness. In today’s social media world, a name makes it much easier to reference in communication. A named storm is easier to remember and refer to in the future.
"Naming a storm raises awareness". Oh hell yes it does! When I heard Brutus was starting in Nevada and working his way towards the midwest, I have been checking TWC's website a few times a day. I wanted to monitor the progress of this storm, watch it strengthen or weaken, and learn if Fargo was going to be in the path. It looks like Fargo is going to be catching just a corner of the system, but still, I am prepared. We have food in the house, gas in the cars, etc.
"Attaching a name makes it much easier to follow a weather system's progress." Again, oh hell yes it does! At any given time, how many weather systems are flowing across the continental US? And how many are coming in from Canada to sweep across the midwest? Instead of looking at a map and going "This system here is doing blah blah", forecasters can say "Athena just beat the shit out of New England 10 days after Sandy". And doesn't that flow better, and frankly sound more impressive than, "10 days after Sandy, New England is experiencing a snow storm." There is a HUGE difference in these two statements. The name adds importance and seriousness. A snow storm... meh. I personally think maybe 6 inches of snow, some ice. Maybe schools are closed for a day or two. Athena... Makes me think of 12+ inches, schools closed for a few to several days, and travel seriously impaired or impossible.
"A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own, which adds to awareness." I don't really feel like I need to elaborate further. A named storm generates attention. Nationwide, people knew about Sandy. Now, nationwide, people know about Brutus. If cities were to lose power and need assistance, organizing that would be made just that more simple.
"In today’s social media world, a name makes it much easier to reference in communication." Damn right. Social media such as Facebook and Skype (the only two I really use, unless Pinterest counts!) has become a primary form of communication between me and my friends and family in Texas. I can update my status, or post on my mom's wall and say, "Keep an eye on Brutus for me." If, gods forbid, we lose power, I can call Mom and say, "Track Brutus for me." And she would be able to use the internet and check on the weather, and road conditions, and when we could expect to have power back.
"A named storm is easier to remember and refer to in the future." Again, also very true. To this DAY, I mention the snow storm Dallas had in 2010 that shut the city down for a full week. Being nameless, we speak about it in thus manner: "Remember that storm in 2010?" "December?" "No no, the one at the beginning of 2010. February." "Oh, when the city was shut down for 7 days?" "Yeah! And we had to bring in trucks to help salt and sand the roads from neighboring cities!" "Yeah, I remember!" All that could be eliminated with, "Hey, remember when snow storm Bob came through Dallas?" "Yeah, damn that was a sucky storm." Everyone automatically knows what storm you're talking about. This could also be used for comparisons, as in, "Hey, snow storm Bob was NOTHIN' compared to snow storm Susie."
Now, the folks that are against naming the storms have their reasons, and I agree with some of them, too. Like it could cause hysteria. People panicking left and right, buying up all the bottled water at the grocery store and stocking up for 2 weeks and preparing to be snowed in... Well. Good. At least they're prepared. And if people are prepared, lives could be saved.
Just look at Hurricane Sandy. How many dumbasses didn't believe all the hype, didn't evacuate, or tried to drive in the flood waters? Too many. How many lives could have been saved if people just listened to the news, packed up their car and went west, further inland? How many lives could have been saved if people didn't try to drive through the flood waters? And then let's think of the police officers and fire fighters who also had to go out in those conditions to save those stupid dumbasses. That's just selfish, really, for someone to try to brave the conditions, and end up needing assistance and dragging some poor cop or fire fighter into that mess. Just stupid.
Anyway, Winter Storm Brutus is supposed to hit Fargo tonight and tomorrow. We're supposed to get mostly rain, but tonight they're calling for snow. Tomorrow's high temperature is 25F... I'm thinking we'll see some ice. Yikes. Scary. Tomorrow I have to go to work... I'm not looking forward to it. I'd rather stay inside where I know it's dry, and warm, and ice-free.
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