The Weather Channel has started giving names to winter storms, similar to how hurricanes are given alphabetical names. But the network’s decision drew a stern comment from the National Weather Service, reports TVNewser.com.

The Weather Channel is already onto its "B" name in the alphabet, after using Athena as a name for the Nor’easter that brought wind and snow to the Northeast this week. "Brutus" was expected to bring blizzard conditions to Montana yesterday, the story notes.

But the National Weather Service issued a comment about the practice, stating: “TWC has named the Nor’easter ‘Athena..’ The NWS does not use name (sic) winter storms in our products. Please refrain from using the term Athena in any of our products.”

The report adds: “Weather Channel’s sister network NBC is getting in on the naming action, sort of. In his oh so glib way Wednesday on ‘Today,’ Matt Lauer said, ‘This is, I guess, winter storm Athena, is what they call it right now.’”