When did winter storms start getting named? Drako?

[vi edit]

Eh?

So I'm in Western SD this week and have to head back to IL starting tomorrow. I need to get through Iowa to get home and it's going to get pounded with 12"+ of snow in about any area I need to go through.

Looking at weather channels and they are calling this "Winter Storm Drako".

When did winter storms start getting names?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Weather Channel started it for this year.

http://www.weather.com/news/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001

 

[vi edit]

Interesting. They say it's to help "follow it better". But from what I can tell it's just a better way to sensationalize storms.

Fear Drako's wrath!!!!

 

[Drako]

What?

 

[Drako]

It's Draco, not Drako

 

[Mixolydian]

It's only The Weather Channel that's naming winter storms.

 

[ichy]

It's a publicity stunt by the Weather Channel.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Interesting. They say it's to help "follow it better". But from what I can tell it's just a better way to sensationalize storms.

I'm guessing, in addition to creating sensationalism, it saves seconds of air time: "The cold front and heavy snow will arrive Wednesday night" vs "Draco will arrive Wednesday night"; when, in context, everyone already knows "Draco" will bring cold and heavy snow. Also easier to reference past storms "Draco" vs "blizzard of December 2012". Probably particularly useful for The Weather Channel since that's all they do.

Most major Winter storms are eventually unofficially named to some degree anyway: "Snowmageddon", "Holiday Blizzard I and II", etc...

 

[DrPizza]

Do you really need to "save seconds of air time" on a 24/7 weather channel?

 

[Brigandier]

Do you really need to "save seconds of air time" on a former 24/7 weather channel?

ftfy, Weather Channel has been applying the MTV formula recently.

 

[Mixolydian]

Do you really need to "save seconds of air time" on a 24/7 weather channel?

TWC hasn't cared about weather since NBC took over. They are focused on "entertainment" now with all of their weather reality shows.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Do you really need to "save seconds of air time" on a 24/7 weather channel?

Adds up to more time to squeeze in ads and other bullshit, right? I dunno, I don't really stop on TWC anymore, ever since they turned in to the Mostly Crap And Occasional Weather Channel.