Why Are Hurricanes Given Names? — Reading Comprehension

Grades

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This NGSS-aligned science reading passage explains why hurricanes are given names and how this practice improves communication and safety. Students learn how storms were once identified by date or location, but now follow an alphabetical naming system created by the World Meteorological Organization. The passage covers how names are selected, reused, and retired, and why naming storms helps scientists, emergency responders, and the public. It supports NGSS standard MS-ESS3-5 and builds understanding of how science supports public safety in real-world situations.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Hurricanes are powerful storms that can cause serious damage to land, homes, and communities. To help people prepare and stay safe, each hurricane is given a name. But why name a storm at all?

In the past, hurricanes were described by their location or by the date they struck. This could get confusing, especially if more than one storm happened in the same place or at the same time. Giving each hurricane a name helps clearly identify it, so weather reports, emergency alerts, and news updates are easier to understand.

The idea of naming storms began in the 1950s, when the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) created a list of names to use each hurricane season. Today, there are different lists of names for different regions around the world. For example, Atlantic hurricanes use one list, while storms in the Pacific or Indian Ocean have their own.

The names are chosen in alphabetical order and rotate every six years. The list includes both male and female names and avoids names that are too hard to pronounce or spell. If a hurricane is especially destructive or deadly, its name is retired and replaced with a new one. For example, names like Katrina and Sandy were retired after those major storms.

Naming hurricanes helps emergency workers, scientists, and the public track and talk about each storm quickly and clearly. It may seem simple, but it’s an important part of staying safe during dangerous weather.

Fun Fact: Before official names were used, some hurricanes were named after saints' days, or even after people politicians disliked!

Why are hurricanes given names?

To make them sound scarierTo honor famous scientistsTo clearly identify and track each stormTo keep storm information secret

What made storm naming helpful compared to older methods?

It made storms disappear fasterIt helped avoid confusion from using dates or locationsIt made people like hurricanes moreIt made weather maps look better

Who manages the lists of hurricane names?

Local weather stationsThe United NationsThe World Meteorological Organization (WMO)NASA

How are the names organized?

By storm sizeIn reverse ABC orderBy the season’s weatherAlphabetically

When is a hurricane name retired?

When people dislike the nameAfter it is used twiceIf the storm was very destructive or deadlyWhen it causes no damage

How often are the name lists reused?

Every yearEvery ten yearsEvery six yearsNever

What is the main idea of the passage?

Hurricane names are randomly chosen each yearNaming hurricanes helps people understand and respond to weather more easilyOnly storms in the U.S. get namesHurricane names are always the same each year

What did people sometimes name hurricanes after in the past?

Days of the weekFamous battlesSaints or disliked politiciansColors of the sky