They also decided that the new lists of hurricane name would start to be used in 1978 which was a year earlier than the Atlantic.

Hurricane names that start with q. Womens and mens names are alternated. The Greek alphabet will be replaced by a supplemental list of names using the same rules as the main Atlantic hurricane season naming list a list of names A-Z but excluding the letters Q. The letters Q U X Y and Z are just not common.

Specific to the North Atlantic ocean the WMO keeps six lists of 21 male and female names that are. In the interests of safety the name must be instantly recognizable. Hurricane names are chosen each year by the United Nations World Meteorological Organization WMO httpwwwwmointpagesprogwwwtcpStorm-naminghtml.

Here is the 2015 list of Atlantic hurricane names. Why are there no hurricane names starting with Q U X Y and Z. If there are more than 21 named storms in a given year there is a supplemental list of 21 names that are used.

The second storm is given the name that begins with a B Naming progresses through the year with names assigned in alphabetical order. The National Hurricane Center issues a rotating list of names every year. Each year the first tropical storm of the season is given a name that starts with A the second storm is given a name that starts with a B and so on the letters Q U X Y and Z are not used becasue there are few common names starting with these letters.

An average year based on 1981 to 2010 data will result in 12 named storms including six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Every six years the list starts over. Names beginning with the letters Q U X Y and Z are never used bc there are too few names associated with them.

As in the Atlantic basin should the names preselected for the season. On each of the six lists of names that are rotated every sixth Atlantic hurricane season youll likely never see a Quincy Ursula or Zachary. Names of hurricanes and tropical storms.