Is Naming Blizzards A Good Idea?

Given the mildness of last winter here in Chelmsford, it's almost a certainty that we'll see more significant snow storms this year than last year, and if we do, the Weather Channel will have names for them all.

Officials for the Weather Channel have said they made the decision to help increase awareness for winter storms while also helping people remember them for future reference, but the entire meteorological community doesn't agree with their decision.

Accuweather president Joel N. Myers has studied the issue of naming winter storms for 20 years, and believes naming them will do more harm than good, since snow storms are often more erratic than more well defined storm patterns like hurricanes, thus making them more likely to dissipate before becoming serious.

That, in turn Myers believes will make the public degrade the seriousness of all named storms, potentially putting lives at risk.

“In unilaterally deciding to name winter storms, The Weather Channel has confused media spin with science and public safety and is doing a disservice to the field of meteorology and public service,” he said.

So what are your thoughts? Should winter storms be named? Tell us in the comments.