Hurricanes are given boys and girls names when they are formed. This makes it really really super easy for scientists and the and ourselves to communicate. It is quicker and shorter to use a name then a code or number for each storm. Every year, a list of names is prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. The names alternate between a boy and girl’s name and go in alphabetical order. (Names with Q, U, X, Y, Z are not used because it is hard to find enough names that start with these letters.)
Just as a hockey player’s jersey number is retired (if he’s a great player), memorable hurricanes can have their name retired. Hurricane names are retired after a really bad storm so that there is no confusion when people talk about that particular storm. A list of names that is used one year is used again in six years with new names for the names that were retired.

Here is the list of the names that might be used for 2004 (this year)



A: Alex
B: Bonnie
C: Charley
D: Danielle
F: Earl
G: Frances
H: Gaston
I: Hermine
J: Ivan
K: Jeanne
L: Karl
M: Matthew
N: Nicole
O: Otto
P: Paula
R: Richard
S: Shary
T: Tomas
V: Virginie
W: Walter


I got this info from: http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/kids4.html

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