With Subtropical Storm Wanda, meteorologists run out of names

As Subtropical Storm Wanda forms over the Atlantic Ocean, meteorologists have exhausted the list of names used for storms during Atlantic hurricane season. 

This marks the second time in two years and the third time in history that the National Weather Service will have to use a supplemental list of names if another storm forms. The first time the service exhausted its list of 21 names was in 2005, according to The New York Times. 

The Times added that Subtropical Storm Wanda was located about 850 from Newfoundland as of Sunday and is not expected to pose any threat to land. 

Last year, 30 named storms, including six hurricanes, forced meteorologists to use Greek letters to identify the nine final storms of the year, the Times reported. The Greek names, however, prompted some confusion so the World Meteorological Organization said it would instead use a supplemental list of 21 other names.

Wanda exhausted the list of names just as the United Nations COP26 climate summit begins in Glasgow. Global leaders from nearly 200 countries will gather for the meeting this week to discuss climate change and commitments for lowering the planet’s temperature. 

Also ahead of the summit, the World Meteorological Organization reported earlier last week that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a record high last year despite temporary decreases during the pandemic. The United Nations has also said the world was off target in terms of reaching its goal emissions cuts to reduce global warming.