The WMO? What’s that? The WMO is the World Meteorological Organization, and it is this venerable group that assigns names to all the storms that occur in the Atlantic Basin in the coming year. As the 2022 storm season officially closed on Nov. 30, the WMO has lost not a second in stepping up to announce the names of the 2023 storms. As it is now officially 2023, The Shofar also is responding quickly and responsibly, keeping its readership informed and prepared for possible chaos ahead.

To that end, find here the names of the 2023 storms, arrival time and intensity not known at this time, but anyone expecting the arrival of a baby in 2023 might want to avoid the following names for fear of much teasing. Those named Sandy continue to suffer the consequences of the destructive 2012 storm.

Here goes: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, Whitney. Should more names be needed, you can be sure the WMO will be up to the job.