Winter Storms Now Have Names: Watch Out for...

While many in the Northeast and New England regions are still shoveling out from the latest winter storm that dropped anywhere from an extra few inches to an extra foot of snow, they may find themselves confused when they hear winter storms all of a sudden being adorned with a proper name, not just one given by the media.

Freyr is just one of the many names chosen for the 2012-13 winter season. Don't confuse Freyr with Euclid, who visited last week from the West Coast, spreading Christmas cheers for children home on school vacations across the country and ruining the travel plans of countless residents in her path.

The Weather Channel explains this change is intended to bring more awareness to the dangers of winter weather and winter storms; sure, it might look beautiful and be fun, but more people need to take this dangerous weather more serious and listen to the forecasters when they advise people to stay off the roads. Just following a few warnings can save lives.

Now people can finally rejoice in the colder regions as recognition is being given to the weather they face; no longer will they be overshadowed by warm weather storm systems!

Another possible reason for this change may be for the media. No longer can every storm be "snowmageddon" with these new names, now reporters for all outlets will have to go with the given name of the storm. Residents living in the Northern United States and Canada should prepare to hear more about Gandolf (not to be confused with the J.R.R. Tolkien character which is spelled with an a), Nemo, Plato, Q, Virgil, Yogi, and others!

Comments: 14

Mooch -. Dec 31, 2012, 8:12am UTC

Well 'Freyer' was a total bust, it rained more than it snowed. And these so called storms that have names are a way to create news and headlines.
Someone has way to much time on their hands if they are going to sit there and name winter storms...........Only storms that should be named, if names are going to be used, is blizzards.! And 4-6 inches or less does NOT constitute as a blizzard.!
I think the stupid idiots at the weather channel should stop creating hype and making mountains out of molehills....

Mooch -. Dec 31, 2012, 10:39am UTC

I don't care what they do, but since its not an across the board thing, they 'name' so called winter storms that aren't even storms. i drove in 'storm fryer' and believe me it was anything but a storm......no place that I drove through got more than an inch of snow...now how is that classified as a storm? Its not. A storm in the winter would be best classified as more than 6 inches of snow, more like 9-12 in my book....I just get tired of the drama over a few damn flurries of snow.......Having grown up in Michigan, I think most places on the east coast ESP in the south over dramatize winter weather. If they want to name storms fine, then name winter storms that are actually storms, don't name something a storm that's not a storm just to create panic among the people.

Christine Dantz Dec 31, 2012, 10:03pm UTC

RF, I'm still stuck on the use of "stupid idiot" . . .

But Mooch, you have a difference in severity in every storm all the time. Just because it's not going to be bad one place as it is for another, we can't just stop calling it a name.

And to be honest, if it stops every coastal storm in the US from being "stormeggdon," then that is worth it right there.

we who live in the areas that get hit, know we get bad storms, but it's not the end of the world when ever they are coming at us.

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Christine Dantz Dec 31, 2012, 9:02am UTC

That's the interesting thing about weather Mooch, it does different things in different areas. Where you got rain, I got another 6 inches of snow.

here is the reports of who got what and you will see some places did get barely anything (though, 2 inches of snow in Kentucky was a deal for them, it was their first of the year, better late then never I guess!)

Mooch -. Dec 31, 2012, 10:47am UTC

I drove from Maryland to norther NJ, I started out in the snow, and from the Delaware Memorial Bridge until 20 miles out from Linden NJ, it was nothing but solid rain. Even when I hit Linden, and I watched some of the game at Yankee Stadium it wouldn't be considered a storm there either, there was no accumulation. Some of the side roads had ice on Sunday AM, but even that wasn't enough to worry about. 6 inches, in my opinion, is on the weak end of the storm category. While 2 inches of snow can be a big deal to some, and an enjoyable first snow of the year.......I still can't classify it as a storm. I love snow, and I love going out and shooting in the snow, but it irks me to no end that they name storms for areas and they aren't even sure its going to be a storm. Now when we get a Nor 'Easter, be my guest and name that, because you can be sure that will dump a bunch of snow some place.........I'm just saying if they are gonna name winter storms, then make sure the winter storms are worthy of naming, because otherwise its nothing more than putting fear into people and causing them to panic over nothing..... Name the ice storms if you want, 1-3 inches in ice can cause a lot of havoc and dangerous driving conditions, more so than snow....

Christine Dantz Dec 31, 2012, 10:11pm UTC

Mooch, the people in those states aren't prepared for storms like we are. So, they don't have rock salt every where, they don't have lots of plows and equipment to remove snow and treat roads for ice. The people don't have snow tires. And they don't need it when they only get snow, maybe once a year and not more than an inch or two. It's not fiscally responsible, wouldn't you agree?

So instead, they close things until it melts or they clear the roads. That saves lives and money.

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Sassy *bacon makes me happy* Cat Dec 31, 2012, 7:07pm UTC

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Winter Storms Now Have Names: Watch Out for Gandolf, Helen or Iago!

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