It was not the way any of us wanted to wake up this morning. At about 4:45AM, cell phones all over Florida were buzzing and chirping. An Emergency Alert test was sent out as many were sound asleep. At least until the alert came in. Turns out the test WAS a planned one. But you were NOT supposed to get it on your phone.
Geno / Beasley
“We know a 4:45 AM wake up call isn’t ideal. @FLSERT wants to apologize for the early morning text. Each month, we test #emergencyalerts on a variety of platforms. This alert was supposed to be on TV, and not disturb anyone already sleeping. We are taking the appropriate action to ensure this will never happen again and that only true emergencies are sent as alerts in the middle of the night.”
I suggest whoever hit the wrong button bring a big box of doughnuts into the office today.
The 2023 Hurricane Season Name List Has Been Revealed
Arlene
Pronounced: ar-LEEN
In 2017, Tropical Storm Arlene formed on April 16. It was not a major storm, but it kinda let us know what was coming.
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Cindy
The 2017 Tropical Storm Cindy targeted Louisiana, spawned tornadoes, and killed 3.
A satellite photo of three storms in the Atlantic Ocean, Dennis, Emily, and Cindy August 27, 1999. Hurricane Dennis gathered force southeast of the Bahamas early on Thursday as it continued on a course that could take it across the islands to the southeast coast of the United States by this weekend. Though Tropical Storm Cindy became Hurricane Cindy on Wednesday evening, it posed no imminent threat to land as it moved on a track expected to carry it east of Bermuda. Tropical Storm Emily, which was moving in the Atlantic east of the Caribbean Sea, also remained days from any landfall, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by NOAA)
Don
In July of 2017, Tropical Storm Don formed but didn’t last.
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Emily
2017 Emily directed effected us. Heavy rainfall produced by Emily caused widespread flooding in Polk and Pinellas counties. Coastal flooding was reported in Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties, causing additional road closures. A tornado touched down Bradenton, destroying two barns and multiple greenhouses. The storm indirectly led to flooding in Miami where 6.97 in of rain fell in 3.5 hours.
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Franklin
The 2017 Hurricane Franklin hit central America on July 27th.
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Harold
Harold is new to list after the 2017 Harvey was retired. However, the name Harold has been used before. Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold was a very powerful tropical cyclone which caused widespread destruction in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga during April 2020.
UNITED STATES – AUGUST 25: In this NOAA handout image, NOAA’s GOES East satellite capture of Hurricane Harvey shows the storm’s eye as the storm nears landfall at 10:07 a.m. EDT (1407 UTC) on August 25, 2017 in the southeastern coast of Texas. (Photo by NASA/NOAA GOES Project via Getty Images)
Idalia
Pronounced: Idalia ee-DAL-ya.
The next new name to the list.
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Jose
2017 Hurricane Jose was massive and nearly a category 5. But then, a large mid-latitude low-pressure area offshore Atlantic Canada and the circulation associated with Hurricane Irma resulted in the collapse of steering currents, causing Jose to decelerate and execute a cyclonic loop. Off to sea.
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Katia
Pronounced: KAH-tyah
In September of 2017, Katia struck Mexico just days after a major earthquake struck the country.
ATLANTIC OCEAN – SEPTEMBER 1: In this satellite Images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Katia is seen September 1, 2011 in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the National Hurricane Center, Katia, now a Category 1 storm, has maximum sustained winds of about 75 miles per hour and has the potential to intensify with winds of 120 miles per hour over the next four days. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Image)
Lee
On September 26, 2017 Hurricane Lee became a Cat 2 but was never a threat to land. We do wish, however, that NHC would consider not using the name seeing as how large portions of Lee County are still a mess from last year. It’s not like we need the reminder.
FORT MYERS FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 29: In this aerial view, vehicles make their way through a flooded area after Hurricane Ian passed through on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Margot
A new name after the 2017 Maria name was retired.
SAN ISIDRO, PUERTO RICO – OCTOBER 05: Kids bike in an area without grid power or running water about two weeks after Hurricane Maria swept through the island on October 5, 2017 in San Isidro, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico experienced widespread damage including most of the electrical, gas and water grid as well as agriculture after Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane, swept through. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Nigel
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Ophelia
In 2017, Ophelia went to the right. On October 16, Ophelia ceased to be a tropical cyclone after merging with a strong cold front about 310 mi southwest of Mizen Head, Ireland. The extratropical low made landfall on the west coast of Ireland at Category 1-equivalent intensity later that day, several hours before striking northern Scotland.
PENZANCE, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 16: Waves whipped up by Hurricane Ophelia crash over the seafront in Penzance on October 16, 2017 in Cornwall, England. Hurricane Ophelia comes exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987. Two people have been killed as the remnants of the storm hit the United Kingdom and Ireland. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Phillipe
Pronounced: fee-LEEP
The 2017 Tropical Storm Philippe spawned three tornadoes in southeastern Florida. One of those damaged dozens of homes in Boynton Beach, while another produced a wind gust of 74 mph in West Palm Beach.
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Rina
Pronounced: REE-nuh
2017 Tropical Storm Rina formed on November 7th and did not make landfall.
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Sean
The 2011 Tropical Storm Sean was the last named storm of 2011. It formed on November 8th and didn’t amount to much.
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Vince
Hopefully not needed.
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