Named storm Andrea May 2019

[Bean Counter]

This storm south of Bermuda touched over 36 knots and was then "named" as a tropical storm (TS) - naming storms may have an insurance consequence. This storm was no stronger than a gale and has now turned into a depression, yet gales are not named. Looking at the satellite photo reveals no clues as to its rotation. I am progressing through google to see if there is an explanation. Any one know the rational behind this?

[Davy J]

I'm not sure of the motivation for naming these relatively mild storms. The local news here in Tampa called it "sub-tropical storm Andrea", you know, meaning a rain storm.......

Some of our afternoon thunderstorms have stronger winds than this thing.

[boatman61]

Its a media/politico thing..
They do like ramping up things these days.. takes the lesser beings minds off the more serious issues.

[Tillsbury]

Surely it's not a storm of any description until the mean wind speed hits 48kts?

[GordMay]

Subtropical Depression Andrea Advisory Number 4:
Andrea becomes the first subtropical storm for the 2019 season although we are two weeks short of the official start date of June 1*. This storm was first spotted on Monday, May 20, 2019 forming over the western Atlantic.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased (from 40mph) to near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Continued weakening is forecast, and Andrea is expected to degenerate into a remnant low by this evening. Andrea is expected to dissipate on Wednesday.
*This is the fifth year in a row that a tropical system has been named before the season officially begins June 1.
☞ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refres...l/211434.shtml


NHC Definitions:
Subtropical Depression: A subtropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 33 kt (38 mph or 62 km/hr) or less.

Subtropical Storm: A subtropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 34 kt (39 mph or 63 km/hr) or more.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Davy J

I'm not sure of the motivation for naming these relatively mild storms. The local news here in Tampa called it "sub-tropical storm Andrea", you know, meaning a rain storm.......



Some of our afternoon thunderstorms have stronger winds than this thing.

The Insurence I was offered and declined had added numbered storms to exclude, to go along with named storms, so it seems anything is excludable / news worthy now.

Cue the global warming causing more storms slide.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

The Insurence I was offered and declined had added numbered storms to exclude, to go along with named storms, so it seems anything is excludable / news worthy now.
.....

WINNER! In reality, a good wintertime cold front has sustained winds over 35mph and can gust to 80. By giving more storms names, the insurance companies will save money through higher deductibles.

Is it reasonable xpect the NWS to start naming all kinds of storms?

[Don C L]

I see one track has it turning south. Perhaps it will be resurrected.

[boatpoker]

Ok, I'm a cynic but given the widespread corruption and manipulation we see at all levels of media, government and business (think recent drug price fixing scandals for example).... I wonder if the multi billion dollar insurance business has a finger in this.

[Tillsbury]

It’s ridiculous to name a force 8. I’m sure insurance companies love it. Down here they’d be well out of names in a season but fortunately an episode of “some wind” doesn’t count.

I think they should stick to naming only those storms that have the potential to cause significant damage.

[RaymondR]

In Australia a named storm, in insurance parlance or tropical cyclone in met bureau parlance is occasioned when a closed weather system's central pressure declines to less than 1,000 mbars. In most cases in the southern hemisphere a tropical low becomes a revolving system due to coriolis forces as it moves south away from the equator which becomes a cyclone when the central pressure drops below 1000 mbar and it may then move in any direction.

In the offshore petroleum industry it can have bad consequences because regulatory bodies may require all offshore installations to be abandoned which abandoning is carried out by helicopter. An unintended consequence of this is that high risk helicopter operations may be undertaken is response to the occurrence of a named storms to abandon facilities with hurricane survival ratings far in excess of the named storms met conditions.

[Dave_S]

I'm might get slammed here but...... naming or numbering a bit of a blow will make the CC graphs look dramatic.

Note: I believe in CC just not convinced on how much we've caused or all of the wild predictions, I think it is good business to create drama and to be able to say the number of named or numbered storms has increased 5x in the last 20 years makes a graph look pretty good.

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

I'm might get slammed here but...... naming or numbering a bit of a blow will make the CC graphs look dramatic.

Note: I believe in CC just not convinced on how much we've caused or all of the wild predictions, I think it is good business to create drama and to be able to say the number of named or numbered storms has increased 5x in the last 20 years makes a graph look pretty good.

I guess what matters is to look at something where you know what the data is. Number of cat 1 or cat 5 hurricanes/cyclones for example. I have no problem with naming hurricanes. Sustained 64kts and above — that’s worth tracking.

[AllenRbrts]

I don't think there is a conspiracy here or that the standards have changed.
From Wikipedia "Within the North*Atlantic Ocean, tropical or subtropical cyclones are named by the*National Hurricane Center*(NHC/RSMC Miami) when they are judged to have intensified into a tropical storm with winds of at least 34*kn (39*mph; 63*km/h)."

[CaptTom]

What about the Weather Channel (and all the weather-related sites and organizations they've bought up) naming every snowstorm, for dramatic effect? And greedy news outlets fanning the flames of hysteria by following that convention.

Pretty soon we'll be hearing about "rain storm Sally" and "fog bank Bob."