Naming winter storms

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

For many years, the only storms that were given names were hurricanes and related tropical systems after they reached requisite wind speeds. Now, we are seeing winter snow storms being given names. I wondered what this was all about. Maybe it is just something that those in weather forecasting thought up. Then I happened to look at my homeowners insurance policy. Some provisions were less advantageous to policy holders if they involved a ''named storm''. Previously, this would have only meant hurricanes and the like, but now would seem to include major snow storms. Did the weather forecasters inflict this change on policy holders deliberately or just through not thinking through what they did in starting to name winter storms.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I have no idea why they name winter storms, probably the same reason they named hurricanes. Our local forecasters began the trend of naming storms and it caught on. The last winter storm was named Charlotte here, but Nemo elsewhere. Not sure when it started, but the Blizzard of 1978 went just by that name, so it probably started after that. I think they did it just to confuse a guy named Steve working overseas.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The insurance implications are what make this potentially significant.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Uh, yeah, and thanks for bringing that up as it had not occurred to me!

Ice storms are particularly problematic for me, living among the tall trees. If a branch crushes my house and the "weather event" is part of a named storm, that = HOSED.

I did find it interesting that winter storms were getting names. I think I figured that out around D, and don't actually know what letter we are up to yet. We got off pretty easy last night so not a name I need to remember ; )

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Since I do not live in an area where winter storms are an issue, I had really not noticed they were naming winter storms now. I did a seach and see that it is something The Weather Channel started for the winter of 2012-2013. The National Weather Service does not do this.

It would be interesting about the insurance thing - especially it the storm was named by a TV station or social media as opposed to the NWS.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Nice distinction, thanks! maybe no ins issue after all.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The key will be the definition of ''named storm'' in the insurance policy. If it is not defined, then it will be interesting to see how the insurance industry starts to interpret it.

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Here are a couple of articles about this - looks like it is a non-issue with the insurance companies.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...ms-named-storm

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news.../14/281286.htm

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

I'm thinking about asking the insurance companies if I can get approved to "name" all the hail storms. I could sell it very easily, just think of the potential savings to the insurance industry.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I have names for them.