A remarkable coincidence took place after beloved country singer Dolly Parton’s death, when a tropical storm that formed over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday was given the preselected name Tropical Storm Dolly.
The name “Dolly” was chosen 30 years ago by the international committee of the World Meteorological Organization as part of a “strict procedure,” and bears no relation to Parton’s death on Tuesday. The odd series of events was noted as early as Wednesday, when meteorologist Roger Edwards described the “astounding coincidence” in a social media post.
The National Hurricane Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, felt compelled to clarify the name choice.
“The timing of the use of the name Dolly for this storm is purely coincidental. … The name Dolly replaced Diana after the 1990 hurricane season,” it said.
The WMO adheres to a procedure that names storms alphabetically, alternating between male and female and reusing them on a six-year rotation. The names only change if a storm is particularly deadly — “Dolly” replaced “Diana” after Hurricane Diana killed dozens of people in Mexico in 1990.
“Dolly” was previously used for storms in 2008 and 2020.
DOLLY PARTON DIES AT AGE 80 AFTER ‘BRIEF BATTLE WITH CANCER’
Grief and tributes poured out from around the world on Tuesday after her death was announced, credited to a “brief battle with cancer.” Her death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who served as the family representative.
“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he said. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”