The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season – By the Numbers
The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a below average one that fell well short of pre-season expectations and faded away peacefully on Monday, November 30th. The 2009 season had below normal number of named storms (9), hurricanes (3), and major hurricanes (2). Only one tropical system made landfall in the United States that year, Tropical Storm Claudette.
The 2009 season was the first in twelve years to produce less than 10 named storms. Before the season began, Colorado State predicted as many as 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes in December 2008, but revised it downward to 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes by April 2009. NOAA projected anywhere from 9 to 14 named storms, 4 to 7 hurricanes, and 1 to 3 major hurricanes. Yet, the season fell well below those expectations.
Nearly half of the season’s named storms occurred during the month of August, including the most potent tropical cyclone of the year. Category Four Hurricane Bill brushed Bermuda and Nova Scotia as a hurricane, and intersected the southern end of Newfoundland as a tropical storm. Hurricane Fred, a Category Three storm, was the other major hurricane of 2009.
The last month of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season was tranquil. Hurricane Ida was the last named storm of the season and dissipated on November 10th. Let’s take a look at the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season by the numbers.
| Total Depressions/PTCs | 11 |
| Total Storms | 9 |
| Named Storm Days | 30 |
| Month with Most Named Storms | August – 4 |
| Total Hurricanes | 3 |
| Hurricane Days | 12 |
| Month with Most Hurricanes | August, September, and November – 1 |
| Total Major Hurricanes | 2 |
| Major Hurricane Days | 3.5 |
| Month with Most Major Hurricanes | August and September – 2 |
| Category Five Hurricanes | 0 |
| Category Five Days | 0 |
| U.S. Landfalling Hurricanes | 0 |
| Strongest Storm | Hurricane Bill |
| Max Sustained Winds (mph) | 130 |
| Lowest Pressure (mb) | 943 |
| ACE | 52.6 |
| Damage Costs | $58 million |
| Deaths | 9 |
Sources: Colorado State University, National Hurricane Center, and Wikipedia