Australia's new list of cyclone names

[ckevans]

The major tropical storms we call "hurricanes" in the Americas are called "typhoons" in most of the Pacific and "cyclones" in the Indian Ocean and around Australia. But everywhere weather bureaus now have lists of names for them.

Australia has had three different sets of lists that have been used for three different ocean areas off that continent where cyclones form. However, the weather bureau in Australia has just decided to change that system so that there will now be only ONE set of lists that will be used for all cyclones forming anywhere around Australia. I thought you might like to see this new list of what Australian cyclones will be named:

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone/about/cyclone-names.shtml#names

Interesting that they include some "very Australian" names like Kirrily, Narelle, and Peta, along with a few names from Asian languages like Koji and Quang.

[Sobes]

You know, I've always thought cyclones were tornadoes - I was trying to figure out how tornadoes could kill that many people in Myanmar a few months ago.

Anyhow, that's a neat list. I've never heard of the Australian ones, except maybe Peta - is there a certain age they would tend to be?

[emmasea]

Cool ! I think they used to use female names on one side of the country and male on the other side, maybe. I never knew they had a pre-arranged master list though, I thought they must sit around in the Bureau and pick one from the next letter in the alphabet - I always thought that would be a great job :)

Petas would be my age (mid-late 30s). Kirrilys would be a little younger (late 20s - early 30s). Narelles would be a little older (late 30s - early 40s).

[Augustine Rose]

Interesting List. I wasn't aware that they retired names when Cyclones were catastrophic though, like Tracey and Larry.

[Bec]

Cool! I always wondered how far in advance they decided this :haha:

[lacascada]

Interesting. Thanks for posting it. But I have never liked the idea of using human names for hurricanes. It mars some otherwise perfect names. I used to like Caitriona, but I don't think I'd ever be able to use it after Hurrican Katrina. The association is just too awful now.

[pomme]

Ditto Emma. My sister is named Peta and she will be 32 this year, my Mum named her that after hearing of another girl called Peta. There are a few good names on the list, though!