"Dirty Side of the Storm"

[Deputy Van Halen]

Last year when Rita was approaching, I heard ad nauseum the phrase "dirty side of the storm", meaning the right side of the eye, with the stronger winds and bigger storm surge.

I had never heard the phrase before. Was this phrase just recently invented? If not, when did it originate? Did people start using it because it sounded cool, and "bad side of the storm" was too bland?

If you think about it, it really should be the other side of the storm that's called the dirty side, because there, the wind is blowing from the land toward the sea, and land is where the "dirt" is.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I had not heard of this phrase myself until I moved out to Texas. Probably something a local met around this area invented and then everyone stole his term.

[Lindaloo]

It is a southern thing. The NE quad does downright mean dirty things to you and your property. So, we refer to it as the dirty side of the storm.

[Jim Cantore]

I call it the "Side you dont want to be on"

[docjoe]

I call it the "Side you dont want to be on"

I call it time to pick the color of your new shingles

docjoe

[Jim Cantore]

Or

"Time to get out of the way"

[Josephine96]

Hunker down

[Dean4Storms]

I think a more proper term would be......

The more Destructive side of the Storm.

[redmosquito]

I call it time to pick the color of your new shingles

docjoe

Bwahahhahhaha!

[southerngale]

I've heard it all my life so I don't know when it started. I figured it was universally understood.

[bob rulz]

Nope, I've never heard it before.

Then again...I don't live anywhere that has to worry about hurricanes.

[brunota2003]

you guys have heard this term: its also known as the RFQ or Right Front Quadrant

[Stormtrack]

I've heard the term for so many years I can't remember when I first heard it. I know it was being used in the 80's a lot.

[Windtalker1]

I've heard the term for so many years I can't remember when I first heard it. I know it was being used in the 80's a lot.

Wilma's Dirty side was the backside, not the NE Quad. when she crossed FL

[bob rulz]

you guys have heard this term: its also known as the RFQ or Right Front Quadrant

I didn't know "right front quadrant" was the same TERM as "dirty side of the storm." There's a difference between what a term MEANS and what it actually SAYS. They may mean the same thing, but they're still different terms.

[N2DaTropics]

An old former Chief of Police around here used to call it the "dog side" of the storm

[brunota2003]

you guys have heard this term: its also known as the RFQ or Right Front Quadrant

I didn't know "right front quadrant" was the same TERM as "dirty side of the storm." There's a difference between what a term MEANS and what it actually SAYS. They may mean the same thing, but they're still different terms.

when did I say that they were the exact terms? I would like to know please...

[Jim Cantore]

I've heard the term for so many years I can't remember when I first heard it. I know it was being used in the 80's a lot.

Wilma's Dirty side was the backside, not the NE Quad. when she crossed FL

It was the south side, partly because Wilma came in on an angle.

[bob rulz]

you guys have heard this term: its also known as the RFQ or Right Front Quadrant

I didn't know "right front quadrant" was the same TERM as "dirty side of the storm." There's a difference between what a term MEANS and what it actually SAYS. They may mean the same thing, but they're still different terms.

when did I say that they were the exact terms? I would like to know please...

Uh...it's quoted right there.

"you guys have heard this term: its also known as the RFQ or Right Front Quadrant"

But it's not like it matters that much. Just me being picky.

[Steve]

Also known as the "wet side" vs. the "dry side."

Steve