# Katrina? Ophelia? I missed three hurricanes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744 "2005-09-15T06:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/1 "2005-09-15T06:39:18Z")
OK, I admit I don’t follow the news as closely as I probably should, but am I the only one who went right from Katrina to Ophelia, completely missing Lee, Maria and Nate? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/2 "2005-09-15T07:39:17Z")
Fortunately, [Lee](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/LEE_graphics.shtml), [Maria](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/MARIA_graphics.shtml), and [Nate](http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/NATE_graphics.shtml) all just sort of wandered around out in the Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/3 "2005-09-15T07:42:04Z")
I don’t know how big any of those three got, but keep in mind storms get named before they reach hurricane status. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/4 "2005-09-15T08:04:02Z")
Well yeah, I know about the naming conventions. I was just surprised to hear about Ophelia all of a sudden. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/5 "2005-09-15T08:06:06Z")
Maria and Nate are definitely [accounted for.](http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1114899.ece) Quite a mess. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/6 "2005-09-15T08:27:09Z")
Oops. Sorry. I picked the only English-language article about the storm that _doesn’t_ mention the rain was due to the remains of tropical storms Maria and Nate. It does have some of the more illustrative photos, though. You can follow the links for more, if you want to. ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/7 "2005-09-15T08:48:53Z")
I remember Maria and Nate - don’t you remember about a week ago when there were all three at hurricane strength out there in the Atlantic? I thought it was fascinating. I wonder if that’s ever happened before. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/8 "2005-09-15T09:06:45Z")
So it’s true - they really _do_ call the wind Maria! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/9 "2005-09-15T15:45:09Z")
> [@uglybeech](#): > > I remember Maria and Nate - don’t you remember about a week ago when there were all three at hurricane strength out there in the Atlantic? I thought it was fascinating. I wonder if that’s ever happened before. Yes, several times. Once, they were lined up like a freight train coming towards the U.S. Amazing thing is that big hurricanes have actually beem kind of low in numbers of the past 20-25 years, leading experts to warn we were overdue (something had to bring the average back up!) So, all is normal. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/10 "2005-09-15T20:19:55Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > So it’s true - they really _do_ call the wind Maria! No no no, the wind cries Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/11 "2005-09-15T21:38:40Z")
I think that if it were my business to name storms, I’d avoid important literary characters associated with drowning deaths. I mean, if Ophelia turned out to be a deadly storm, could anyone who lost a loved one every make it through _Hamlet_ again? “Drown’d! drown’d!” “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia.” _Widower Jones runs sobbing from theatre_ (Sorry, I’m just practicing my oversensitivity routine.) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/12 "2005-09-16T00:22:01Z")
I don’t know, but it will probably be a while before they play Katrina and the Waves on New Orleans-area oldies stations. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/13 "2005-09-16T00:26:20Z")
i rather thought this storm lived up to the ophelia name. this storm is back and forth, loopdelooping, will i go ashore, won’t i go to shore. finally getting just close enough to shore to flood the land with 15+ inches of rain (ophelia’s tears?) she is one crazy storm looking for a steering current. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/14 "2005-09-16T01:37:08Z")
Interesting factoid: When a tropical depression forms it is first given a number. So far, all Atlantic TDs went on to become named storms with 1 exception: Number 10. However TD10 actually reformed and became tropical depression 12. Usually, the old number is kept but after some debating it was felt that a low that joined with the remnant of 10 made it a “new storm”. I happen to disagree. BTW, TD12 became Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/15 "2005-09-16T03:04:10Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > I don’t know, but it will probably be a while before they play Katrina and the Waves on New Orleans-area oldies stations. Well God whipped me up just to drown gays So He made me class 4. And sent me off to New Orleans to scrub down that whore. Now the gov’ner well he saw me comin’ Said, “Get out of town. Cause we got us a bad storm a-blowing big rains comin’ down.” [CHORUS] I’m flushin’ New Orleans, Woah! [3x] And don’t it feel good? Hey! Oh right now! And don’t it feel good? I jabbed with a 20 foot storm surge and I took out the coast. For style I then blew out the levees Now that town is a ghost. You won’t fix it up in a weekend no, not in a year! Cause that whole town is under the water and now it’s God that you fear! [CHORUS] I’m flushin’ New Orleans, Woah! [3x] And don’t it feel good? Hey! Oh right now! And don’t it feel good? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/16 "2005-09-16T03:46:32Z")
I too have noticed that not just one, but two hurricanes have been unfortunately named this year. (And isn’t “Nate” close to “Natalie”?) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-ophelia-i-missed-three-hurricanes/321744/17 "2005-09-16T12:01:29Z")
Hey, leave Nate alone. A kind, polite storm. And one I feel a certain sympathy for if you get my drift.