The official Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season starts on June 1st, ends on November 30th , and averages seven named storms. Once a tropical storm exceeds wind speeds of thirty-nine miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives it a name. Names are given out in alphabetic order from rotating lists of male and female names. Before 1978, hurricanes were only given girl names. But I never considered this an insult to my gender. Before 1950, hurricanes were numbered not named. Did the numbers feel insulted? Of course not.
[Editor’s Note: An updated version of this topic can be found here: Hurricanes]
