Hurricane names released as 2021 season begins – Everett Post

(NEW YORK) – The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season started on Tuesday and it is expected to be another busy year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting above-average activity this year with up to 20 named storms, up to 10 hurricanes, and up to five major hurricanes.

Tropical storms get a name when the wind speed near the center of the storm reaches 39 miles per hour or more. The storm turns into a hurricane when persistent winds reach 74 miles per hour or more around the center. It becomes a major Category 3 or higher hurricane when winds hit 180 km / h near the center.

Names for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season include Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Elsa, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, and Wanda .

In 2020 there was a record of 30 named storms, which meant using a backup list of names with letters from the Greek alphabet.

For this year, the World Meteorological Organization decided to do something different, and instead of using Greek letters as substitute names, the organization has actually come up with additional names for tropical cyclones.