Winter storm naming in the United States - wikipedia Winter storm naming in the United States Winter storm naming in the United States has been used since the mid 1700s in various ways to describe historical winter storms. These names have been coined from days of the year that the storm impacted, to noteworthy structures such as a theatre the storm had destroyed. In the 2010s, winter storm naming has become controversial with The Weather Channel, and various media coming up with their own names for winter storms. It has been argued by meteorologists that winter storms can reform more than once, making the process of naming them both difficult and redundant. On the other side of the argument those in favor of naming storms argue that the names help people with preparation. Entities from the United States government which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), and the National Weather Service ( NWS ) have also weighed in stating that they would not be naming winter storms, and have asked others to refrain from doing so. Despite the request though, the issue with naming winter storms continues to come up yearly with various names dubbed by the media. Contents 1 History 2 Naming by The Weather Channel 3 United States government naming policy 4 Reception 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History Winter Storm naming in the United States goes back to the 1700s when a snowstorm dubbed `` The Great Snow of 1717 '' hit the colonies of New England in 1717. Another noteworthy storm that hit the great plains in 1888 was dubbed `` The Schoolhouse Blizzard '' or `` Children 's Blizzard ''. Naming would be used again in 1905 for The Mataafa Storm that occurred on the Great Lakes. In 1924, a storm hit the upper South and middle Atlantic United States. This storm turned blizzard was dubbed the Knickerbocker Storm after the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington D.C. which the storm destroyed. Named days of the calendar for storms include a storm that hit in 1940 called the Armistice Day Blizzard, a storm in Oregon in 1962 called the Columbus Day Storm, a storm in 1976 called the Groundhog Day gale, and more recently a storm in 1991 dubbed the Halloween blizzard. The twentieth century closed with two more storms that received names. In 1993, a storm that spanned a large portion of the eastern United States was called the 1993 Storm of the Century. In 1997 a blizzard that impacted the Northeastern United States was dubbed the April Fool 's Day Blizzard. Storms of the twenty - first century include the South Valley Surprise of 2002 that impacted Oregon. In 2006, the National Weather Service named a winter storm that impacted Buffalo New York Lake Storm `` Aphid ''. Later in the year major storms that occurred in Colorado were dubbed the Colorado Holiday Blizzards. During October 2012 after informally using the previously - coined name `` Snowtober '' for the 2011 Halloween nor'easter, The Weather Channel announced that it was going to start naming winter storms from a predetermined list of names. The Weather Channel argued that the winter storm names would improve communications of storm warnings and help reduce storm impacts. Private agencies, and news stations have also named storms in recent years that have received international media attention. These names include `` Snowmageddon '', `` Snowzilla '', and other voted upon names such as Anna, after former First Lady Anna Harrison. Naming by the Weather Channel In November 2012, TWC began systematically naming winter storms, starting with the November 2012 nor'easter it named `` Winter Storm Athena. '' TWC compiled a list of winter storm names for the 2012 -- 13 winter season. It would only name those storms that are `` disruptive '' to people, said Bryan Norcross, a TWC senior director. TWC 's decision was met with criticism from other weather forecasters, who called the practice self - serving and potentially confusing to the public. Naming though has been used by The Weather Channel ( TWC ) since 2011, when the cable network informally used the previously - coined name `` Snowtober '' for a 2011 Halloween nor'easter. A few of the winter storm names used by March 2013 include Athena, Brutus, Caesar, Gandolf, Khan, and Nemo. For the 2013 - 2014 season, The Weather Channel published a list of 26 more names to be used for winter storms, with the name Atlas as the first name of the season. On October 2, 2014, The Weather Channel released 25 new names with the 26th `` W '' to be voted on by viewers. Since then, various names have been chosen by The Weather Channel for each subsequent winter season. United States government naming Policy The U.S. government - operated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) ( a division of which -- the National Hurricane Center -- has named hurricanes for many years ), and its main division -- the National Weather Service ( NWS ) -- did not acknowledge TWC 's winter storm names and asked its forecast offices to refrain from using the TWC names. In a November 2012 memo, it requested that its employees avoid referring to storms by name. NWS spokesperson Susan Buchanan stated, `` The National Weather Service does not name winter storms because a winter storm 's impact can vary from one location to another, and storms can weaken and redevelop, making it difficult to define where one ends and another begins. '' The National Weather Service office in Buffalo, New York named lake - effect snow storms in its coverage area through the 2012 -- 13 season. In 2013, the office removed references to its previous history of naming those storms and now only refers to the storms by date. The National Weather Service has since stated that `` no plans to consider naming winter storms '' are in progress. Reception Private weather forecaster AccuWeather disagreed with the practice of naming winter storms in 2013. AccuWeather president Joel N. Myers stated in February 2013, `` The Weather Channel has confused media spin with science and public safety. We (... ) have found this is not good science and will mislead the public. '' In defense of TWC 's practice, TWC 's Norcross said, `` The fact is, a storm with a name is easier to follow, which will mean fewer surprises and more preparation. '' In February 2013, media organizations such as The New York Times and The Washington Post stated that they would not use a name such as `` Winter Storm Nemo '' for the February 2013 nor'easter. However, some outlets such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg 's office used the Twitter hashtag `` # nemo '' to refer to the storm. Tom Kines of AccuWeather stated, `` The Weather Channel probably names the storms because it gets the publicity '' ; as a privately owned weather service, TWC relies on its TV audience and page views for revenue. Doctoral candidate Adam Rainear from the University of Connecticut stated that the names do not add credibility based on a study he had done on impacts. Rainear argues that hurricane names were adopted as a useful tool for mariners to help warn ships of the storm 's path. He points out though, that no `` data '' supports the notion of The Weather Channel drawing in more people by naming winter storms. See also Weather portal 2010s portal Winter storm naming in the United Kingdom and Ireland Tropical cyclone naming Weather wars Snowmageddon References Jump up ^ Zielinski and Keim, pg. 181 Jump up ^ Laskin, David ( 2004 ). The Children 's Blizzard. New York : HarperCollins. ISBN 0 - 06 - 052076 - 0. Jump up ^ Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Minnesota Jump up ^ Ambrose, Kevin. `` The Knickerbocker Snowstorm of January 27 -- 28, 1922 ''. Washington Weather Book. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 24. ^ Jump up to : Freedman, Andrew ( October 2, 2012 ). `` Weather Channel Announces Plan to Name Winter Storms ''. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Weekend Storm -- the latest ! ''. WFSB. Hartford, Connecticut : Meredith Corporation. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016. Jump up ^ Freeman, Andrew ( October 2, 2012 ). `` Weather Channel Announces Plan to Name Winter Storms ''. Weather Central. Retrieved February 10, 2013. Jump up ^ Semuels, Alana ( February 9, 2013 ). `` Weather Channel finding Nemo is creating storm among meteorologists ''. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Palmer, Roxanne ( February 8, 2013 ). `` What 's In A Storm Name ? Weather Channel Policy Draws Critics, But Catches On ''. International Business Times. Retrieved February 10, 2013. Jump up ^ Stelter, Brian ( February 8, 2013 ). `` A Storm Is ' No One, ' and Means Very Little ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ Epstein, David ( 2013 - 02 - 11 ). `` Historical snowstorm yes, blizzard no ''. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Nemo Controversy : Should We Name Every Big Storm ? ''. Science20.com. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` It 's Not a Storm Until the Weather Channel Names It ''. The Daily Beast. 2013 - 03 - 07. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 01. ^ Jump up to : Newman, Jared ( February 9, 2013 ). `` Do n't Call that Storm ' Nemo ' ? Twitter Begs to Differ ''. Time. Retrieved February 11, 2013. Jump up ^ Stelter, Brian ( February 7, 2013 ). `` A Fish, Er, Storm Named Nemo ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ `` Winter Storm Names 2013 - 14 : What They Are and What They Mean ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2014 - 01 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Weather Channel announces winter storm names, reigniting debate over their value ''. www.washingtonpost.com. 2014 - 10 - 01. Retrieved 2014 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Winter Storm Names 2014 - 2015 : What They Are and What They Mean ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved October 2, 2014. Jump up ^ Doyle Rice ( 2015 - 10 - 13 ). `` From Ajax to Zandor : Weather Channel releases list of winter storm names ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ Doyle Rice ( October 18, 2016 ). `` Ready for Winter Storm Blanche ? Weather Channel releases list of storm names ''. USA Today. Retrieved November 19, 2016. Jump up ^ `` What 's the big deal with naming winter storms ? ''. wxbrad.com. Retrieved February 9, 2013. Jump up ^ Walter, Marcus ( November 7, 2012 ). `` National Weather Service says no to naming storms ''. WKYC - TV. Retrieved February 10, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Why Your Weatherman Is Protesting the Name ' Nemo ' - National ''. The Atlantic. 2013 - 02 - 08. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ Lake Effect Page. National Weather Service Buffalo office ( June 28, 2013 ). Retrieved from the Internet Archive March 22, 2015. Jump up ^ Doyle Rice ( October 18, 2016 ). `` Ready for Winter Storm Blanche ? Weather Channel releases list of storm names ''. USA Today. Retrieved March 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Samenow, Jason ( 2012 - 10 - 03 ). `` TV weathercasters criticize unilateral action by The Weather Channel on storm naming ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ Niziol, Tom ( November 11, 2012 ). `` Why The Weather Channel is Naming Winter Storms ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved February 11, 2013. Jump up ^ Stelter, Brian. `` A Storm Is ' No One, ' and Means Very Little ''. The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2013. Jump up ^ Mirkinson, Jack ( February 8, 2013 ). `` ' Nemo ' May Be Weather Channel 's Name For Northeast Blizzard, But Most Other Outlets Are n't Biting ''. The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2013. Jump up ^ `` No Access What 's in a # Name ? An Experimental Study Examining Perceived Credibility and Impact of Winter Storm Names ''. American Meteorological Society. Retrieved December 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Kenneth Best ( December 14, 2017 ). `` The Impact of Winter Storm Names ''. University of Connecticut. Retrieved December 14, 2017. External links `` Winter Storm Names for 2013 ''. The Weather Channel. October 2, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013. Major snow and ice events in the United States Seasons : 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 2011 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 18th -- 19th century 1717 Feb 27 -- Mar 7 1886 Jan 6 -- 10 1888 Jan 12 -- 13 Mar 11 -- 14 1899 Feb 11 -- 14 20th century 1905 Nov 27 -- 28 1913 Nov 6 -- 11 1920 Mar 15 -- 18 1922 Jan 27 -- 28 1930 Mar 25 -- 26 1931 Mar 7 -- 8 1939 Jan 30 1940 Nov 10 -- 12 1947 Dec 25 -- 26 1950 Nov 24 -- 30 1952 Feb 17 -- 18 1956 Mar 18 -- 19 1958 Feb 14 -- 18 Mar 18 -- 21 1960 Dec 11 -- 12 1961 Jan 11 -- 13 1966 Jan 27 -- 31 1967 Jan 26 -- 27 1969 Feb 8 -- 10 Mar 5 -- 8 Dec 25 -- 28 Jan 9 -- 12 1976 Feb 2 1977 Jan 28 -- Feb 1 1978 Jan 19 -- 21 Jan 25 -- 27 Feb 5 -- 7 1979 Jan 13 -- 14 1982 Apr 6 -- 8 Feb 10 -- 12 1991 Oct 31 -- Nov 3 Dec 10 -- 12 Mar 12 -- 15 1995 Feb 2 -- 6 Jan 6 -- 10 Mar 31 -- Apr 1 Oct 24 -- 26 1998 Jan 4 -- 10 1999 Jan 2 -- 4 Jan 14 -- 15 2000 Jan 18 -- 30 Dec 27 -- 31 21st century 2000s 2002 Jan 29 -- 31 Feb 7 Dec 4 -- 5 2003 Feb 14 -- 19 Dec 5 -- 8 Dec 21 -- 24 Dec 24 -- 28 2005 Jan 20 -- 23 Dec 14 -- 16 2006 Feb 11 -- 13 Oct 11 -- 13 Nov 20 -- 24 Nov 26 -- Dec 1 Dec 20 -- Jan 1 2007 Jan 11 -- 24 Feb 12 -- 20 Apr 13 -- 17 Nov 29 -- Dec 4 Nov 29 -- Dec 5 Dec 8 -- 18 2008 Jan 3 -- 11 Mar 6 -- 10 Dec 11 -- 12 Dec 19 -- 25 2009 Jan 25 -- 30 Oct 13 -- 20 ( Dec 16 -- 20 Dec 22 -- 28 2010s Feb 1 -- 6 Feb 7 -- 11 Feb 24 -- 27 Mar 12 -- 16 ) ( Oct 23 -- 28 Dec 5 -- 29 2011 Jan 8 -- 13 Jan 24 -- 28 Jan 29 -- Feb 3 ) ( Oct 28 -- Nov 1 Nov 8 -- 10 2012 Jan 16 -- 20 ) ( Oct 29 -- Nov 2 Nov 7 -- 10 Dec 17 -- 22 Dec 25 -- 28 2013 Feb 7 -- 18 Feb 22 -- Mar 5 Mar 1 -- 10 Mar 18 -- 24 ) ( Oct 3 -- 5 Nov 25 -- 28 Dec 19 -- 23 2014 Dec 30, 2013 -- Jan 6 Jan 20 -- 22 Jan 27 -- 31 Feb 11 -- 14 Feb 19 -- 21 ) ( Nov 8 -- 13 Nov 13 -- 21 Dec 9 -- 11 Dec 10 -- 27 2015 Jan 23 -- 30 Jan 31 -- Feb 2 Feb 12 -- 17 Feb 20 -- Mar 1 Mar 1 -- 6 Mar 20 May 9 -- 11 ) ( Nov 24 -- 27 Dec 26 -- 30 2016 Jan 21 -- 24 Jan 29 -- Feb 7 Feb 7 -- 10 Feb 23 -- 24 Mar 8 -- 11 Mar 21 -- 25 Apr 3 -- 11 Apr 15 -- 23 ) ( Dec 23 -- 26 2017 Jan 4 -- 8 Jan 7 -- 13 Jan 10 -- 17 Jan 19 -- 24 Jan 21 -- 23 Feb 6 -- 10 Feb 8 -- 22 Mar 9 -- 10 Mar 11 -- 15 Mar 18 -- 20 Mar 31 -- Apr 2 Apr 28 -- May 1 ) ( Dec 7 -- 10 2018 Jan 2 -- 5 Jan 13 -- 16 Mar 1 -- 3 Mar 6 -- 8 Mar 12 -- 14 Mar 20 -- 22 Apr 3 Related Climate change Cold wave Extratropical cyclone Ice age Polar vortex Storm naming Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_storm_naming_in_the_United_States&oldid=820653483 '' Categories : 2012 meteorology Media - related controversies in the United States Names The Weather Channel Weather events in the United States Naming controversies Hidden categories : Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2012 All articles containing potentially dated statements All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 15 January 2018, at 21 : 21. 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Question: when did the weather channel start naming winter storms
Answer: November 2012