HO HO HO TO Y'ALL ;) I hope you're all having a very merry Christmas!
I went through the 2017-18 Western European Windstorm name list (led by Météo-France), and the 2018-19 SWIO name list. Here's what I've found:
2011 Atlantic hurricane names vs 2017-18 EU Windstorm names[]
Look what happens next...
Notice any similarity? Well, it looks like Météo-France directly plucked the names "Irene", "Jose" and "Katia" directly from the 2011 Atlantic hurricane names! Not to mention, in the correct sequential order too! "Leo" and "Marina" seem to be eerily similar names to "Lee" and "Maria". Other names that Météo-France seemed to pick out from other hurricane naming lists include "Ana" (Atlantic 2021), "David" (Retired Atlantic 1979), "Felix" (Retired Atlantic 2007), "Olivia" (EPAC 2018) and "Rosa" (EPAC 2018). As well as France, Spain and Portugal are also authors of this naming list and they plan to, in the 2018-19 EU Windstorm season, merge with the UK and Irish system to create one big list. It could end up sounding/feeling a lot like the 2019 Atlantic hurricane naming list, which has a smattering of French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English (with a British feel) and Irish names if Météo-France keeps on borrowing names from other basins.
2018-19 SWIO names[]
Ah yes, welcome back Rita, promise you'll be a good girl this time? What's up Kenny; you're gonna maintain your Category 4 record? Nice to meet you Oscar and Pamela! You look so cute together. Hi Walter!
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. No explanation needed. I certainly don't want to see this clean record being tainted by a weak TS in the SWIO either:
So there you go. Plagiarism or coincidence? Discuss below..