Dear Tom,
Has an Atlantic tropical cyclone ever crossed into the Pacific or vice-versa? If so, what happens to the storm’s name?
Michael Shaenboen, Flossmoor
Dear Michael,
Prior to the advent of weather satellites in the 1960s it was difficult for meteorologists to track hurricanes that crossed basins because forecasters were often unaware of a storm’s history. Since then, with the help of satellite data, there have been at least eight instances where a tropical cyclone crossed Central America. When a named storm moves from one ocean to another, it is given a new identity in accordance with the next name up on the new basin’s list, even if it results in a “gender change.” In July 1996, Atlantic Hurricane Cesar became Pacific Hurricane Douglas, and in 1989, Pacific “male” Hurricane Cosme became Tropical Storm Allison after crossing Mexico and moving into the Gulf of Mexico.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
