The Tropical Prediction Center near Miami, FL, keeps a constant watch on oceanic storm- breeding areas for tropical disturbances which may herald the formation of a hurricane. If a disturbance intensifies into a tropical storm- with rotary circulation and wind speeds above 39 miles per hour- the Center will give the storm a name. A separate name set is used each year beginning with the first name of the set. The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are not included because of scarcity of names beginning with those letters. The name lists have an international flavor because tropical storms and hurricanes affect other nations and are tracked by the public and weather services of countries other than the United States. Names for these lists are agreed upon by nations involved during international meetings of the World Meteorological Organization.
