The Weather Channel announced that after a successful first year, winter storms that fit a certain criteria will be named again during the 2013-14 season.

Many of the requirements for a winter storm to earn a name haven't changed, as pictured in the image above. If a storm is expected to break records or get etched in our memory as a monster event, it will receive the next of our alphabetically-ordered, predetermined names on the list.

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One difference isn't a major change: Starting this season, The Weather Channel will focus on a more formal integration of National Weather Service winter-weather warning thresholds when deciding whether or not to name a storm. In short, if the NWS is planning to issue winter storm warnings for an area, that will weigh even more into the naming committee's decision-making than it did a year ago (though it was a major factor for storm-naming during the 2012-13 season).

"This year, we're looking at a more objective way to evaluate the population that's going to be affected by the storm and the area that's going to be covered," said , winter weather expert at The Weather Channel.

Just as warning thresholds vary for different parts of the country, so will the chances of a winter storm getting named.

"For example, a winter storm warning in Atlanta, Ga. might be issued for as little as 2 inches of snow, but when you're in Burlington, Vt., it may take 8 to 10 inches of snow to trigger that warning,"Niziolsaid.

Last year's total of 27 named storms was one more than the 26-name list allowed, so when Winter Storm Achilles threatened the Rockies and Plains in May, an extra name had to be added. The naming committee applied this year's new rules to last year's storms to see if they would lessen the odds of another year with too many names and found their results to be inconclusive.

"Not too surprisingly, we were pretty close to the number that we named. Given the same type of year, I would expect about the same number of storms,"Niziolsaid.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Iconic Images of Named Winter Storms, 2012-13

Winter Storm Athena

The storm that followed closely behind Superstorm Sandy left huge snowfall totals in some areas. Leading the way were Monroe and Clintonville, Conn., receiving 13.5 inches of snow each. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)