the weather channel started naming winter storms in november 2012.
the weather channel started naming winter storms in november 2012.
when did the weather channel start naming winter storms?
november 2012
the u.s. government-operated national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) (a division of which—the national hurricane center—has named hurricanes for many years), and its main division—the national weather service (nws)—did not acknowledge twc's winter storm names and asked its forecast offices to refrain from using the twc names. in a november 2012 memo, it requested that its employees avoid referring to storms by name. nws spokesperson susan buchanan stated, "the national weather service does not name winter storms because a winter storm's impact can vary from one location to another, and storms can weaken and redevelop, making it difficult to define where one ends and another begins." the national weather service office in buffalo, new york named lake-effect snow storms in its coverage area through the 2012–13 season. in 2013, the office removed references to its previous history of naming those storms and now only refers to the storms by date. the national weather service has since stated that "no plans to consider naming winter storms" are in progress.
winter storm naming in the united states
in the fall of 2012, the weather channel began to assign names to major winter storm systems. the channel's management stated the decision to start naming notable winter storms came as a way to more easily spread knowledge and raise awareness. by naming winter storms, twc stated that the public would find it easier to follow storm information, social media will be able to refer to and discuss the storm, and people will have an easier time referring to the storm after it occurs. however, critics of the weather channel insist it is a way to further hype winter weather, especially on the heavily populated upper east coast.
the weather channel