Believe it or not: five winter storms have already been named in the 2014-15 season. Cato, the big one that dumped a ton of snow on Boston and the rest of New England over the Thanksgiving break, is the only one worth mentioning; the other four winter storms don’t have strong enough names, I felt, to warrant me drawing your attention to them.
The Weather Channel, which released its list of 2014-15 winter storm names back in October (scroll to the bottom), claims there’s a legitimate scientific way to go about choosing what to call a bunch of snow, rain and slush.
(Back when I wasn’t going to meteorology school, I wasn’t allowed to use a name generator on assignments.)
Here’s BostInno’s alphabetical list of storm names we would like considered for Winter 2015-16 – if they can’t be put on the discussion table this year.
- Winter Storm Abominable
- Winter Storm Blessed
- Winter Storm Colossal
- Winter Storm Dumbo Drop
- Winter Storm Everywhere
- Winter Storm Freedom
- Winter Storm God
- Winter Storm Hashtag
- Winter Storm Impossible
- Winter Storm JKTTYLBETCH
- Winter Storm Lawlz
- Winter Storm McDoogle
- Winter Storm Nasty
- Winter Storm Obviously
- Winter Storm Pooh
- Winter Storm Quvenzhané
- Winter Storm Rhino
- Winter Storm Supernova
- Winter Storm Tomorrow
- Winter Storm Unimaginable
- Winter Storm Vaporizer
- Winter Storm Windsorsmith–Stabblebottom, III
- Winter Storm X-Factor
- Winter Storm Youngblood
- Winter Storm Zoobabies
And here’s The Weather Channel’s 2014-15 storm names, with favorites in bold and author-revised meanings.
“Astro” – singular form of Astros, as in the Houston Astros MLB team (in a sentence: Jeff Bagwell was a Houston Astro).
“Bozeman” – named after a high school Latin teacher’s class who chose the storm names used during the 2013-14 season.
“Cato” – fallen District 2 tough guy, considered a favorite to win the 74th Annual Hunger Games, ultimately won by Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
“Damon” – Greek mythological figure, known for his loyalty. Surename of loyal Ben-Affleck best friend Matt, and retired-MLB star Johnny, who isn’t so loyal.
“Eris” – apparently the name of a Greek goddess of discord. Which happens to be fitting for a winter storm, but really is an unfortunate name to give a person, place or thing.
“Gorgon” – a three-headed, serpentine Greek monster
“Hektor” – Trojan warrior, played by Eric Bana in the movie Troy; killed by Brad Pitt (or, Achilles).
“Iola” – the Greek beauty Hercules was going to marry but didn’t
“Juno” – Goddess, protector of the women of Rome; last seen: being snarky, confused with Michael Cera.
“Kari” – Finnish name, derived from the name Makarios, which, in old-Greek, means #blessed. Khaleesi would have been, and still is, much more fitting for a “K” Winter Storm name.
“Linus” – Greek God Apollo’s musically-gifted son; slight-of-hand expert-pickpocketer and known member of Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13; a fictional character, brought to life by Matt Damon.
“Marcus” – Roman name for Mars, the god of war.
“Neptune” – Roman sea god; most distant planet left in Earth’s solar system.
“Octavia” – the sister of Roman Emperor Augustus, a.k.a, Octavian
“Pandora” – popular, modestly-priced jewelry; the first woman created by the gods, according to Greek mythology. #NBD
“Quantum” – physics-talk for “Yo. How much is this?”
“Remus” – as in, Lupin. Former Hogwarts D.O.A.A Professor Remus Lupin, of course, and best friend to James Potter, father of Harry Potter; Sirius Black, godfather to Harry Potter; and formerly to traitor Peter Pettigrew, who sold James Potter and his wife, Lily, mother of Harry Potter, out to Lord Voldemort. Known rival of Hogwarts Potions Master Professor Severus Snape, who actually turned out to be a decent, though, dark soul, forever in love with Lily Evans, a.k.a. Lily Potter. Remus Lupin, as a boy, was bitten by a werewolf. He is (or, sadly was) a werewolf, and loving husband of Nymphodora Tonks; the couple left behind an infant son, Teddy Lupin.
“Sparta” – the baddest ancient Greek city of all, where Gerard Butler is, probably.
“Thor” – People’s Sexiest Man Alive.
“Ultima” – not a Nissan Altima; the Latin word for final.
“Venus” – Love goddess; the planet second-closest to the sun in the solar system.
“Why” – a BostInno suggested name for what would be the 23rd winter storm of the 2014-2015 season, which would likely arrive in late-April or early-May – rudely, offering zero scientific explanation.
“Xander” – Dutch name, probably a little too nice-sounding to cause much of a hassle.
“Yuli” – a Basque name for Julius.
“Zelus” – in Greek, synonymous with envy, jealousy, dedication, and zeal. Which you probably guessed.
Photo via Flickr
