It is about that time when we (at least those on the Texas Gulf Coast) all need to start thinking about June 1st and the start of the 2010 Hurricane Season. Below you will find a listing of hurricane names for the Atlantic Ocean for this year. For every year, therre is a pre-approved list of hurricane names. The list of names is developed by the National Hurricane Center. The list has been formed by the Center since 1953. When first generated, the lists consisted of only female names; however, since 1979, the lists alternated between male and female names.
There are actually six lists that rotate continuously. The lists contain hurricane names that begin from A through W; but exclude names that begin with “Q” or “U.” Names on the list only change when a hurricane is very severe and damaging; when that happens, the name is retired and another name replaces it. Thus, the 2010 hurricane name list is the same as the list form 2004. However, the list does have changes; four in fact. Because of the devastating 2004 hurricane season, the following changes were made: Colin replaces Charley; Fiona replaces Frances; Igor replaces Ivan; and Julia replaces Jeanne.
- Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine
- Igor, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard
- Shary, Thomas, Virginie, Walter
There are normally less than 21 named tropical storms in any calendar year. In the rare years when more than 21 storms are named the additional storms are given names from the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta are used for their names.
