Winter Storm Names For 2016-2017 Revealed

The names will be used in alphabetical order to identify winter storms that meet naming criteria. The 2012-2013 list for winter storms was the first of its kind to be developed by The Weather Channel.

(MORE: The Science Behind Naming Winter Storms | Winter Storm Central)

"It's simply easier to communicate about a complex storm if it has a name, which our naming program has demonstrated," said Bryan Norcross, senior hurricane specialist at The Weather Channel and compiler of the list. "Good communications benefits everyone."

(AMS BLOG: It's Time For Weather Community Cooperation on Naming Winter Storms)

According to winter weather expert Tom Niziol of The Weather Channel, there were 22 named winter storms in the 2015-2016 season, matching the total from the 2014-2015 season, but less than the 26 named storms in 2013-2014 and 27 storms in 2012-2013. 

(RECAPS: Winter 2015-2016 Warmest on Record in Lower 48 States)

The Bozeman, Montana, High School Latin class, which has contributed to the winter storm name list since 2013-2014, once again contributed to the 2016-2017 list.

Below is the list of 26 names to be used this season, as well as background on each and a guide for names with multiple or difficult pronunciations.

Argos (AR-gus): A city in Greece and in Greek mythology the home of a number of kings. People have lived in this location for the past 7,000 years.Blanche:  The French word for white. From the Latin word blancus.Caly (CAY-lee): A variation of Kaylee, short for Katherine. From the Greek name Aikaterine.

Decima (DEH-sih-mah): One of the Fates in Roman mythologyEuropa (your-OH-pah): From Greek mythology, the name of a princess who was abducted by Zeus. Europe is named for her.Fortis (FOR-tis): A Latin word for strong.Gregory: Derived from the Latin name Gregorius, which came from the Greek word gregoros meaning watchful or alert.Helena (HEH-leh-na): The Latin version of the Greek name, Helen. Helen of Troy was a mythological character described as the most beautiful woman in the world and appears in a variety of myths.Iras (EYE-rus): A character in Shakespeare’s tragedy “Antony and Cleopatra”, a story about the Roman general and leader and his queen at the end of their lives.Jupiter: The supreme god in Roman mythology, ultimately derived from Zeus plus pater, Latin for father.Kori (KORE-ee): A version of Corey, which was derived from the Old Norse name, Korí.Leo: The Ancient Latin word for lion.Maya: A variation of Maia from Greek and Roman mythology. To Romans, Maia was the goddess of spring. The month of May is named in her honor.Niko (NEE-koh): Short for the Greek name Nikolaos, which means victor of the people or people’s champion.

Orson: An English name that was ultimately derived from the Latin word for bear, ursus.Pluto: A Latinized version of the Greek word ploutos meaning wealth.Quid: Part of the Latin phrase quid pro quo meaning this for that.

Reggie: Short for Reginald, which is derived from the Latin Reginaldus, which is derived from Germanic words meaning advice and rule.

Stella: A Latin word meaning star.

Theseus (THEE-see-us): Theseus was the mythical king of Athens and was the son of Aethra by two fathers: Aegeus and Poseidon.Ursa (ERR-sah): A feminine form of the Latin word ursus meaning bear.Valerie: From Valeria, the feminine version of the Ancient Roman saint’s name Valerius. Wyatt: From the Medieval name Wyot, which ultimately came from the Middle English words for battle and brave.Xavier (ZAY-vee-er):  From name of a 16th Century Spanish saint, Francis Xavier. His name was a Romanized version of his birthplace Exteberri, which meant new house in Basque.Yuri (YOUR-ee): An alternate spelling of Yuriy, the Russian version of George, which ultimately comes from the Greek word georgós meaning farmer.Zeno (ZEE-no): From the Greek name Zenon, derived from the name of mythological god of the thunder and the sky, Zeus.  

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