Tropical storms draw parallels to 2016 presidential election
Digital Reporter
Wednesday, July 19, 2017, 4:55 PM - Two tropical systems unleashed a Twitter storm this week, and it wasn’t because of their forecasts.
As Tropical Storm Don churned in the Atlantic, forecasters were simultaneously keeping an eye on another disturbance in the East Pacific destined to be named Hilary if further strengthening was observed.
The two names – bearing a resemblance to the two 2016 U.S. presidential candidates – wasn’t a case of fake news, but merely a coincidence. Hurricane names are determined years ahead of time by the World Meteorological Organization. Additionally, eastern Pacific storms are pulled from a separate list than Atlantic storms.
Former National Hurricane Center director, Max Mayfield, headed the committee that added Don to the name list in 2006. He told the Associated Press the names were purely a fluke.
“I hadn’t even thought about that,” he said. “I guarantee you that it has no connection to Donald Trump.”
Although the storm Don has since dissipated, it certainly made enough waves on social media to catch our eye. Here are ten from Tuesday’s tweet storm:
@NOAA's imaging equipment is incredible - look at the detail! #tropicalstormdon pic.twitter.com/JqeHZDwdxx
— Simon Abrams (@flysi) July 17, 2017
It begins... pic.twitter.com/br4JH3HhKn
— Mark Ellinwood (@markellinwood) July 17, 2017
National Weather Service releases first picture of Tropical Storm Don pic.twitter.com/ywAdlQFAmK
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) July 17, 2017
Warning "Tropical Storm Don" has just turned into a category 1 Covfefe
— Paul Michael Ainger (@ainger13) July 17, 2017
Good news. The weatherman just said they don't expect #TropicalStormDon to stick around very long. 😂 pic.twitter.com/a6p5ETCQen
— Rogue Chihuahua (@RogueChihuahua) July 17, 2017
Tropical Storm Don is expected to be the first storm in US history to cause widespread damage in every state of the Union.
— In Related News (@InRelatedNews1) July 17, 2017
Tropical Storm Don not expected to become a hurricane, will dissipate within 72 hours. Low energy. Sad! pic.twitter.com/tNECFsdmFI
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) July 17, 2017
Well, the good news is that Tropical Storm Hilary has no chance of hitting the White House.
— The Mental Recession (@rustyweiss74) July 18, 2017
Tropical Storm Don...cloudy with a chance of collusion. #TROPICALSTORMDON pic.twitter.com/RcAtWWsTev
— James Bolan (@jameswb94) July 18, 2017
Tropical Storm Don will tell you how much damage it will do and then fizzle out and blame Hurricane Hillary.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) July 17, 2017
Below: List of 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Names
Below: List of 2017 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Names
Thumbnail image source: @RogueChihuahua
