text: Why tropical cyclones were given names, and how they've changed, Lifestyle News - AsiaOne
  Why tropical cyclones were given names, and how they've changed
  PHOTO: Twitter/afreedma
  Typhoon Kompasu moved on to southern China and Vietnam after buffeting Hong Kong on Oct 13, injuring 20 people and causing one death. The Hong Kong Observatory lowered the No 8 typhoon signal in late afternoon after more than 23 hours, having raised it for the second time in four days on Tuesday (Oct 12).
  The storm came hot on the heels of Typhoon Lionrock, which brought torrential rain and triggered what was then the longest No 8 typhoon signal since 1978 - a mark Kompasu promptly broke.
  The Observatory warned Kompasu could cause more damage than Lionrock, but in the event the rains, while heavy, and the winds, while gusty, caused fewer problems for the city..
  Apart from the havoc such storms wreak, the other notable thing about them is the names they are given. Tropical cyclones are named by storm warning centres to make forecasters' communications with the general public as easy as possible to understand.
  The clouds build over Hong Kong Island on Wednesday as Tropical Storm Barijat moves closer to the city.
  ALSO READ: Hong Kong 'not out of the woods yet' from Typhoon Kompasu: Expert
  Ma-on means horse saddle, and is also the name of a peak in the city; Lingling is a common pet name for young girls; Kai Tak is named after the city's former airport, which closed in 1998; possibly the worst name of all is Choi Wan, which means colourful cloud but is also the name of a public housing estate in the city.