"Nemo"? OK, I missed the bulletin - so why does a forken snowstorm have a name? [View all]

[Jersey Devil]

Weather Channel and the Networks regularly break out in hives about any kind of storm, especially hurricanes. But now we have to have names for snowstorms and noreasters?

Why? Is it to make people even more hysterical about the weather than they normally are? It's bad enough that anytime there is a hint of snowflakes in the forecast you can't buy any milk or bread (or, for some reason, bananas, which my local Stop & Shop insists is the biggest seller in a storm) because goofy shoppers run out and buy a supply that could last maybe a month. Like when did anyone ever get stuck in the house due to snow for more than a day or so?