Hurricane Season Comes To An End

December 1, 2009

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The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially came to an end at midnight tonight, marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño.

Two systems, Claudette and Ida, brought tropical storm force winds to the northern Gulf Coast. For the first time in three years, no hurricanes hit the U.S. There were 38 hurricane hunter aircraft reconnaissance missions flown by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic Basin this year compared to 169 in 2008 – another indication of a less active season.

Nine named storms formed this year, including three hurricanes, two of which were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. These numbers fall within the ranges predicted in NOAA’s mid-season outlook issued in August, which called for seven to 11 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to two major hurricanes. An average season has 11 named storms and six hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.

“The reduced activity was expected and reflects the development of El Niño during the summer,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “El Niño produced strong wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic, which resulted in fewer and shorter-lived storms compared to some recent very active seasons.”

“El Niño is expected to reach peak strength this winter, and will likely continue into the spring. It is far too early to say whether El Niño will be present next summer,” added Bell. NOAA will issue its initial 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook in May, prior to the official start of the season on June 1.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment—from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun—and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

Pictured above:  2009 Atlantic storm tracks. Click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Hurricane Season Comes To An End”

  1. Cynical on December 1st, 2009 9:58 am

    My insurance company made out like a bandit this year.

    Hopefully, lower rates next year.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News