The official Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season starts on June 1, ends on November 30, 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. Between 1950 and 1978, hurricanes were given girl names. But before that, hurricanes were numbered, not named.
[Editor’s Note: An updated version of this topic can be found here: Hurricanes]
