Hurricane names creating big storm

I know it’s sexist and I know I can expect a few nasty retorts but if it was up to me, I would continue to name hurricanes after women only.

Fortunately for us in South Africa, we are spared this force of nature, so we can only imagine how terrifying it must be to ride out a storm like hurricane Ida currently causing chaos in a number of states in the US.

What I didn’t know is that the World Meteorological Organisation names hurricanes after men and women. But this wasn’t always the case.

It is reported that from about 1953 to 1979, US hurricanes and tropical storms were only named after women.

The names were, according to historical records, often borrowed from places, saints, wives, girlfriends and even disliked public figures.

Weathermen yes, back in the day being a weatherman was regarded as a man’s job often referred to storms as if they were women.

They were described as temperamental, or at times teasing or flirting with a coastline. One Roxcy Bolton is credited with helping persuade weather forecasters not to name tropical storms after only women.

Bolton, who died in May 2017, said women “deeply resent being arbitrarily associated with disaster”, according to her New York Times obituary.

Meteorologists believe naming tropical storms and hurricanes helps people remember the storms, communicate about them more effectively and, consequently, stay safer.

Names are assigned according to a formal list which is approved before the start of each hurricane season.

Americans can thus look forward to meeting Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda next.

Should hurricanes become a seasonal phenomenon in SA, we could have a competition to find the most fitting names.

Top of my list would be hurricane Nkosazana and tropical storm Patricia. And men’s names?

I recommend Ace and Carl. I did consider Bheki, but a puff of hot air doesn’t qualify to be named.