Why was Alpha used in 1972

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Jim Cantore

Why was Alpha used in 1972

#1 Postby Jim Cantore » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:25 pm

I've been wondering for 5 years, Keep forgetting to ask, It just doesnt make sense.
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#2 Postby HurricaneHunter914 » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:29 pm

Was Alpha used in 1972 can you show me proof.
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Derek Ortt

#3 Postby Derek Ortt » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:39 pm

at that time, subtropical storms were named using the Greek Alphabet
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#4 Postby senorpepr » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:41 pm

At that time, the phoenic alphabet was used to name subtropical storm.

If you notice... not only Alpha, Charlie (the letter not the name), and Delta were used and Bravo was upgraded to tropical, but I can't remember which storm.

Alpha (from the phoenic alphabet) is not the same as Alpha (the Greek letter)
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#5 Postby senorpepr » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:42 pm

Derek Ortt wrote:at that time, subtropical storms were named using the Greek Alphabet


They were using the phoenic alphabet, not the Greek Alphabet. That is evident from Charlie and Delta that were used later in the year.
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Jim Cantore

#6 Postby Jim Cantore » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:00 pm

Thanks I'd been wondering about that
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Derek Ortt

#7 Postby Derek Ortt » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:28 pm

did not know that they used the phonetic alphabet

which one were they using as in 1950 when the international phonetic alphabet was used, Able was the first name
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#8 Postby senorpepr » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:11 pm

Derek Ortt wrote:did not know that they used the phonetic alphabet

which one were they using as in 1950 when the international phonetic alphabet was used, Able was the first name


Able, Baker, Charlie... is the pre-1954 US Navy phonetic alphabet. (Which makes since...)

Sometime in the late 1950s-1960s, the NATO's phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) was adapted...
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#9 Postby RattleMan » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:33 am

senorpepr wrote:If you notice... not only Alpha, Charlie (the letter not the name), and Delta were used and Bravo was upgraded to tropical, but I can't remember which storm.


I believe it was Hurricane Betty.
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#10 Postby senorpepr » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:08 am

RattleMan wrote:
senorpepr wrote:If you notice... not only Alpha, Charlie (the letter not the name), and Delta were used and Bravo was upgraded to tropical, but I can't remember which storm.


I believe it was Hurricane Betty.


You're right. After some investigation, I came across the prelim report for Betty.

Hurricane Betty Preliminary Report wrote:The first evidence of the disturbance that was to develop into hurricane Betty appeared on the 21st in satellite pictures as a bright convective area within an old frontal zone about 250n.mi. north-northwest of Bermuda. On the 22d, the SS Visurgis (OETK) reported southerly winds of 35kt at 1200 GMT, backing to southeasterly of 35 kt at 1500 GMT. The disturbance was designated subtropical cyclone Bravo on the 23d as ship reports suggested winds had reached gale force, and a closed circulation was more evident on ATS 3 pictures.
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