2009 Pacific hurricane season

The Pacific hurricane season began in 2009 in the eastern Pacific officially on 15 May and Zentralpazifk on June 1; it ended on 30 November. Within this period, usually make the most tropical storms, as only this time the appropriate conditions exist, such as a warm ocean, moist air and little wind shear to allow the formation of tropical cyclones. Any storms that form north of the equator and east of 180 ° W belong to this pool. Storms that form in the west are no longer called hurricanes, typhoons but.

Although the East Pacific basin to the West Pacific is the second most active formation region of tropical cyclones in the world, most storms threaten no country, because they usually give control to the open ocean. Few storms hit a curve to the east or north-east and then threaten especially the Mexican coast.

Tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean see the article: Atlantic hurricane season of 2009.

Seasonal forecast

On 21 May 2009, NOAA announced its seasonal forecast for the hurricane season in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. Thus, a below-average season was expected in the eastern Pacific should achieve the status of a major hurricane with 13 named storms to 18, of which 6 to 10 hurricanes, of the two to five.

The prediction was based on the resolution of La Niña in April 2009. Surface water temperatures were near normal in the vicinity of the equator. Moreover, the formation of El Niño is assumed for the latter part of the season. Depending on the strength of the El Niño forecasters were uncertain whether this will have an effect on the overall activity in this basin. Due to the cycle of low activity, which began in 1995, El Niño would bring the season to a maximum of the average level or slightly above.

Also a slightly below average season was expected for the mid-Pacific. Accordingly, should have three to five tropical cyclones migrate into the area between the 140th and 180th degree of west longitude, or form there.

Season overview

The year 2009 is the first year since 1999 in which the month of May has formed no named storm. Since 1999 there has been in each year one or two such storms in May. These ten years are the longest continuous period in which this was the case since records began. On average, May storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean forming a via in the second year, so the absence of a storm in May is normal. The first tropical system of the year was a short-lived tropical depression that hit on Sinaloa in Mexico; it is the only known system that did this in June. As the NHC, the Tropical Depression Two -E explained to Tropical Storm Andres on June 23, this was the zweitspäteste date for the first storm. Only in 1969, the first storm formed even later, when Ava was a tropical storm on July 1. However, the NHC said in his summary of the tropical weather patterns fixed for August that August 2009 was named storms, with seven of the most active month for 41 years, since August 1968 hurricane season in the eastern Pacific occurred eight named storms.

Lana, the sixth tropical low pressure system of the season was only the fourth known tropical cyclone, which was created as a low pressure area in the eastern Pacific basin and was named in the central Pacific Ocean; the other three were Lala (1984) Iniki and Li ( 1994). Lana was the first tropical storm in the central Pacific since Kika 2008 and also the first tropical cyclone that migrated from the eastern to the central Pacific Ocean since Flossie (2007). Even while Felicia was active, the Tropical Depression One -C formed, so the 2009 season, the first hurricane season since the 2002 Pacific hurricane season was, in the two tropical systems were simultaneously active in the Central Pacific.

Storms

Tropical Depression One -E

Off the southwest coast of Mexico was on June 15, a weather disturbance that slowly west- northwestward wandered and a low pressure area formed when she won at organization. The system became more organized and classified on June 18, the National Hurricane Center, the first tropical depression of the Pacific hurricane season 2009, about 595 km south- southwest of Mazatlan, Mexico. Depth atmospheric convection existed in the southern part of the system, in the northern part there were some no convective activity. A trough over Baja California resulted in a northbound direction of pull of the system. The system remained disorganized due to wind shear most of its existence. One -E dissolves, as it passed on June 20 over the country.

Close to Mazatlan fell on June 19, 62 mm rainfall, which caused flooding in the streets of the city. The wind uprooted trees and ripped power lines to. Landslides and rockfalls caused on the main roads several traffic accidents.

Hurricane Andres

Late on June 21, formed some 335 km south of Zihuatanejo, a tropical depression that had intensified six hours later to a tropical storm and was named " Andres ". On June 23, around 14:00 clock PDT Andres was declared a hurricane, with the intensification of the hurricane was earlier. However, Andres weakened again easily, so that the NHC, the system again downgraded to Tropical Storm against 20 clock local time June 23. The system moved on to a more northwesterly direction. Strong wind shear and dry air had their impact on the system, which weakened rapidly, so that the NHC on June 24, spent the last warnings to Andres.

With Andres associated heavy rainfall taught in the region near Acapulco severe flooding. 200 residents had to be evacuated from their homes. A fisherman drowned in a lagoon northwest of the city, when his boat capsized.

Tropical Storm Blanca

On July 6, a weather disturbance was about 675 km south- southwest of the tip of Baja California from the National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm directly, without having been previously classified as a Tropical Depression. " Blanca " had a deep convection and possibly an eye. During the day the storm continued to intensify. Extensive rainbands developed and around the center of the wind reached a sustained speed of 75 km / h Some of the predictive models were based on a rapid intensification before the storm would arrive in an inhibitory environment; However, these predictions were not fulfilled, so that Blanca was graded on July 8 for Tropical Depression One day later, the remnant low. About 1600 km west- northwest of the southern tip of Baja California, the system broke up on July 10.

Unusually for July brought the remains of the system on 11 July rainfall in the south and the center of California.

Hurricane Carlos

On 9 July, organized a weather disturbance, which was associated with rain and thunderstorm activity, about 1450 km south of the tip of Baja California to a low pressure center, which has been classified in early July 10, the fourth tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Around 14:00 clock PDT intensified the system to Tropical Storm "Carlos". On July 11, the National Hurricane Center on Carlos classified to a minimal hurricane.

Carlos formed from a small eye that was visible on satellite images. But overnight lost the hurricane inexplicably in intensity and the eye disappeared. The deep convection was limited to a small region around the center of circulation and the size of the system decreased, so that Carlos was graded to a tropical storm. Also on July 13, this trend of slowdown continued, before Carlos could reverse the trend. On July 14, once again developed an eye and Carlos again intensified into a hurricane,

His greatest strength reached hurricane on July 15 at 9:00 UTC clock with wind speeds of 90 knots as a Category 2 hurricane. From then on, the intensity decreased continuously, on July 16, the NHC spent until the last warning to the system.

Tropical Storm Dolores

On July 14, an area of ​​disturbed weather won south of Baja California sufficient organization to has been classified as the fifth tropical depression. On the morning of July 15, the system classifies intensified into a tropical storm and was awarded by the National Hurricane Center called " Dolores ". Dolores made ​​from band structures and peaked in the early morning of July 16 with winds of 35 knots its greatest strength. During the day, the system lost its strength and weakened to a tropical depression. Since overnight lost the deep convection, the NHC said the system on July 17 at 8:00 PDT clock to the rest low. This took a few days to the north, before it broke up in the vicinity of the West coast of California on July 20.

Tropical Storm Lana

On July 30, developed at the western edge of the eastern Pacific, a disorder for the sixth tropical depression of the season. Six hours later intensified the system, now west of the 140th meridian west to a tropical storm and was named " Lana". The storm began with the formation of an eye, however, led southern wind shear due to an upper trough to a slight disorganization of the system. Lana nonetheless reached on 1 August, the largest intensity with winds of 55 knots. The storm weakened significantly, although the Windgeschwindkeiten the next few days still reached 45 knots. Late in the 2nd August Lana weakened to a tropical depression off and disintegrated on August 3, to a remnant low, about 930 km southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and 660 kilometers east of Johnston Iceland, so that the Central Pacific Hurricane Center the last warning to Lana spent; during the course of August 4, the remnant low was completely dissolved.

Tropical Storm Enrique

Tropical Storm " Enrique " evolved from a broad area of ​​low pressure with the center several hundred miles south-southwest of Baja California Sur to a tropical system. The center of circulation was located in an area that was convenient for the further development. The depression moved west- north-westerly direction, as it responded to a high pressure ridge to the north of the system. A second area of ​​low pressure, which is about nine degrees of longitude farther west was, also had the disposition, to develop into a tropical system and to influence the Tropical Depression Seven -E. Late on August 3, the system intensified into a tropical storm and was named " Enrique ". Enrique intensified shortly and reached on August 4, with wind speeds of 50 km its greatest strength. The influence by the active near Hurricane Felicia weakened the system in the late evening. By early on August 6 Enrique maintained this intensity, but was then graded by the NHC for tropical depression. On August 7, the system spent the last warning to Enrique.

Hurricane Felicia

Late on August 3, formed about 160 southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, a tropical depression and, after a few hours earlier to the east, the Tropical Depression Seven -E was classified, declared Tropical Depression Eight -E. The system rapidly intensified and was told three hours later a tropical storm and was named " Felicia ".

Felicia quickly developed an eye. The warm water in the range of the predicted cyclone track was blamed for this intensification. On the afternoon of August 4 Felicia reached the status of a hurricane of category 2 had already reached in the evening on the Saffir -Simpson Hurricane Scale. On August 5, the NHC Felicia downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane and Felicia became one major hurricane of the season. During the day Felicia continued to intensify rapidly to a Category 4 hurricane, whose maximum wind speed around 230 km / h reached. Felicia was the strongest Pacific hurricane on Daniel during the Pacific hurricane season of 2006.

On August 8, Felicia crossed the border to the Central Pacific Basin and weakened steadily during the approach to Hawaii from first to tropical storm and finally to a tropical depression. Storm warnings were announced on August 9 for Big Iceland, Maui and Oahu, but canceled two days later, when Felicia was graded to a remnant low.

Tropical Depression Nine -E

The Tropical Depression Nine -E developed on August 9, from a small area of ​​low pressure west-southwest of Baja California. On August 12, the Tropical Depression Nine -E disbanded.

Tropical Storm Maka

The Tropical Depression One -C developed on August 11 from a low pressure area southwest of Kauai. A few hours later, " Maka " was classified as a second system of the season in the area of ​​responsibility of the CPHCs to a tropical storm. The next day, the intensity of the storm decreased. This slowdown came as a surprise and was told by meteorologists to me before unexpected wind shear, so Honolulu issued the final warning to the system. The remnant low Maka languished over the dateline in the western Pacific Ocean and developed there again to a tropical depression.

Hurricane Guillermo

Tropical Storm " Guillermo " was formed on August 12 about 700 miles southwest of Baja California out of a large area of ​​low pressure. The system developed a good swirl and a good convection and eventually evolved in the afternoon to a tropical storm. On 14 August, Guillermo intensified into a hurricane category 1 During the day Guillermo intensified rapidly, so that the NHC noted the system clock at 23:30 PDT, the Guillermo has developed into a major hurricane. In the next few days the system moved further west. After reaching the 140th meridian, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center noted that the eye Guillermo is no longer recognizable due to the impact of western - southwestern wind shear. The next day, Guillermo was downgraded to a tropical storm. On 19 August, Guillermo disbanded.

Tropical Storm Hilda

The Eleventh Tropical Depression of the season came on August 22 on the western edge of the responsibility of the National Hurricane Center. It was upgraded a few hours to Tropical Storm " Hilda " and crossed on August 23, the 140th west longitude. The next few days went Hilda further west, where the storm due to easterly wind shear initially intensified slowly. However, the system moves along on the south side of a ridge, so that the outflow in the northern semicircle is hindered. The CPHC initially said Hilda intensifying into a hurricane before, but dry air made the storm to create and hindered the further development. This trend continued in the 25th and 26th of August, before the slowdown phase of the storm began. On August 28, the CPHC issued the last warning to Hilda, already decayed at this time to a remnant low.

Tropical Storm Ignacio

The Tropical Depression Twelve -E formed late on August 24, about 1060 km southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Although the convection decreased slightly within the rain bands on the western semicircle of the system, the system is organized better and was told a few hours later to a tropical storm. " Ignacio " however, was not particularly well organized and to be a series of smaller vortex circulation center was located. Ignacio did not manage to intensify considerably and weakened after he arrived in an area with water temperatures below 26 ° C, August 27 to a tropical depression off the same day lost tropical characteristics.

Hurricane Jimena

In the western Caribbean, a tropical wave that crossed Central America and developed slowly in the Pacific ocean was born. In the early morning of 29 August, the wave intensified about 350 km south of Acapulco to Tropical Depression Thirteen -E and soon after a tropical storm. This was given the name " Jimena " and intensified on the same day to a Category 2 hurricane, the Saffir -Simpson Hurricane Scale. Jimena formed a small eye. The next day, the hurricane strengthened to a major hurricane, the third of the season. Intensification continued and still on August 30 reached the relatively small hurricane category 4

On August 31, Jimena was probably under a cyclic - eyewall formation, whereby the hurricane lost some strength. Its tensile direction turned by a subtropical ridge over northwestern Mexico and a subtropical to tropical cyclone except west of Baja California from the northwest to a more northerly track. There he won again unexpectedly in strength and moved at least at the upper end of Category 4 on the Saffir- Simpson scale. Maybe the hurricane even reached the Category 5 On the way to the Mexican peninsula of Baja California, the system weakened, however, again to a Category 3 hurricane off. To Jimena began Although still above the sea with heavy rains and high waves on the mainland to the tourist district of Los Cabos in the south of the peninsula to impact. On 2 September, Jimena moved further north along the coast, while further weakened to Category 2. In the afternoon local time, the hurricane center crossed at San Aventura, some 100 km south of Santa Rosalia, the coastline and struck a speed of between 140 to 150 km / h on land. Overland to Jimena weakened further. Since the system showed no deep convection more on 4 September for more than twelve hours, it was declared that day to a remnant low.

Would Jimena hit with its original strength, Category 4 or 5, on Baja California, it would have been there the strongest tropical storm since records began. One of the worst hurricanes of the past, who had taken the peninsula was in 1989 when Hurricane Kiko Level 3 Hurricane Lane (2006, category 3) and Kenna (2002, category 5) struck in the neighboring regions on the Mexican mainland. Jimena himself went to Puerto San Carlos with wind speeds up to 110 km / h on land. He destroyed houses and cut some villages from the outside world. A fisherman was reported missing. Otherwise, no personal injuries were to be deplored.

Tropical Depression Two -C

The Tropical Depression Two -C was born on August 29, at 3:00 UTC clock from a small area of ​​disturbed weather southwest of Kauai. The system moved westward and crossed in the morning of August 30, the date line and entered the responsibility of the Japan Meteorological Agency. There, the system could not continue to intensify and broke up a few hours later.

Tropical Storm Kevin

The 14th tropical depression of the season formed on August 29 from an area of ​​disturbed weather about 1600 km southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, to the west of the developing hurricane Jimena. The depression was not very well trained, yet intensified the seventh named storm in the eastern Pacific in August. " Kevin" did not make it to intensify and an unfavorable environment took its toll. On August 30, Kevin lost continuously in force, so that the NHC Kevin abstufte on August 31 to a tropical depression. He broke up the same day.

Hurricane Linda

The Tropical Depression Fifteen -E was classified on September 7. It evolved from an approximately 1770 km west-southwest of the seats of Baja California located low pressure area. After the continuous winds during the day 95 km / h reached, the system has been incremented to a tropical storm and was named "Linda". Linda intensified until 10 September slowly to a category 1 hurricane and reached the peak with sustained wind speeds of 140 km / h on September 10. Then, the hurricane rapidly lost strength, so he was just so classified at noon of September 11 as a tropical storm. During the day, Linda initially weakened to a tropical depression and then a remnant low, so that the NHC no further warnings about Linda spent more. Linda's remains schwachten off and disintegrated on 15 September in a shallow trough; they were eventually absorbed on September 10 by a frontal system.

Tropical Storm Marty

The Tropical Depression Sixteen -E formed about 550 south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas on 16 September and intensified within a few hours to a tropical storm, which the NHC gave the name " Marty ". Marty reached on 17 September with a central pressure of 1001 hPa and sustained wind speeds of 75 km / h its strongest intensity before he became progressively weaker during the following two days. On September 19, the NHC issued the last warning to Marty. The remnant low dissolved until September 24 to complete.

Tropical Storm Nora

On September 21, about 1440 km west-southwest of the southern tip made ​​of Baja California, a large low pressure area. This area of ​​disturbed weather slowly began to organize themselves and intensified late on 22 September to a tropical depression. A few hours later, the low pressure area had developed into a tropical storm and was named " Nora ". On this day, Nora achieved by a sustained wind speeds of 90 km, the largest Strong before the system will come back down because of a nearby trough. Early on September 25, the NHC issued the last warning to Nora.

Tropical Storm Olaf

The Tropical Depression Eighteen -E formed on October 1 from an extensive low pressure area and intensified rapidly to Tropical Storm " Olaf ". As it moved toward Baja California northward and northeastward, the storm but came over cooler water and under the influence of wind shear, so that he on October 3, initially weakened to a low pressure area. Several hours later is the NHC the alerts as Olaf fell into a remnant low.

In Baja California Sur, it came through heavy rain to flood low-lying community, especially in the area of La Paz in parts of Sonora and Sinaloa also heavy rainfall were recorded.

Tropical Storm Patricia

On October 11, formed from a disturbance, a tropical depression. It organized itself more and more, until finally the NHC classified up the low pressure area to a tropical storm named " Patricia ". On October 14, Patricia met on the southern tip of Baja California and weakened once again to a low pressure system off.

Hurricane Rick

With its intensity is "Rick" by Linda in 1997, the second strongest hurricane, which was recorded in the north - eastern Pacific. Rick originated from a tropical wave that developed into a tropical depression on October 15. The system migrated to west-northwest direction and entered a region which made an explosive intensification possible. Shortly after the classification as a tropical depression Twenty -E, the system was already classified a tropical storm. With its intensity Rick is by Linda in 1997, the second strongest hurricane, which was recorded in the north - eastern Pacific. Barely 18 hours later, Rick had already reached hurricane strength. After a brief period of stagnation, the NHC upgraded the hurricane in just 36 hours on 17 October in the highest category 5 up. Rick was the first Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Pacific since Hurricane Kenna in the hurricane season of 2002.

In the early morning of October 18 Hurricane Rick reached with continuous wind speeds of 285 km / h and a central pressure of 906 hPa its greatest intensity, but soon afterwards ensured increasing wind shear and drier air masses of a weakening of the hurricane. On 19 October, Rick had weakened to a Category 3 hurricane. Rick turned to a more northerly direction, threatening the southern tip of Baja California. In this phase Rick Be Lost on to power and was graded on 20 October to a tropical storm. At the time the storm was already strongly asymmetric, most of the convection had moved northeastward. Rick arrived the next day with wind speeds of 95 km / h with Mazatlan over the country. Within twelve hours after landfall to Rick broke up.

In Mexico, three people were killed by the impact of the storm. The damage caused by the hurricane was low.

Hurricane Neki

On October 18, at 11:00 clock HST ( 1:00 UTC clock ) was formed, the Tropical Depression Three -C. It was located about 1100 km south of Hawaii at this time. The emergence of the system was unusual in that it was formed from a disturbance in the Intertropical Koinvergenzzone ( ITCZ ). This was several days south of Hawaii and developed on 19 October an organized circulation. Early the next day, Three -C intensified into Tropical Storm " Neki ". This slowly grew in strength and reached on the afternoon of October 20 hurricane strength. The next day, Neki reached Category 2 of the Saffir- Simpson Hurricane Scale. After a period of slow intensification Neki reached category 3 and thus became the first major hurricane, which had arisen in the central Pacific, since to Hurricane Ioke had formed during the hurricane season of 2006. After Neki had reached with wind speeds of 205 km / h and a central pressure of 950 hPa, the largest intensity, the hurricane weakened slowly. Last Neki reached hurricane strength on 22 October, a day later corresponded Nekis strength only a tropical storm. As Tropical Storm Neki was three more days before the system weakened to a tropical depression on October 26. In the early morning of October 27 Neki dissolve into a surface trough that rushed away with a forward speed of almost 60 km / h and low hanging clouds that were in a long circulation movement, across the northern Pacific.

Neki moved on 23 October on the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument near the French Frigate Shoals away, taught there but no damage. The hurricane was the first tropical cyclone since Hurricane Iniki in the hurricane season 1992, which had an impact on the Hawaiian Islands. For two nature reserves, the effects were more severe; Round Iceland lost land and Disappearing Iceland was completely washed away.

Time course of the season

Storm names

Tropical storms and hurricanes that formed in 2009 in the eastern Pacific Ocean, were named from the following list of names. These names are also used during the 2015 Pacific hurricane season, when the World Meteorological Organization does not make any deletions from the list of names of tropical cyclones in the spring of 2010. Not assigned names are shown in gray.

• Andres
• Blanca
• Carlos
• Dolores
• Enrique
• Felicia
• Guillermo
• Hilda

• Ignacio
• Jimena
• Kevin
• Linda
• Marty
• Nora
• Olaf
• Patricia

• Rick
• Sandra ( not awarded)
• Terry ( not awarded)
• Vivian ( not awarded)
• Waldo ( not awarded)
• Xina ( not awarded)
• York ( not awarded)
• Zelda ( not awarded)

Tropical storms and hurricanes that formed in 2009 in the central Pacific Ocean, being named after a separate list of names. These were assigned by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

• Lana
• Maka
• Neki

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE )

The adjacent table shows the ACE for each storm this year. The ACE describes the energy of a tropical storm by the strength of a storm is multiplied by the duration, that is, long -lasting storms and severe storms have a high ACE value. Traditionally, from the NOAA only named storms with wind speeds of over 34 knots (63 km / h) are detected, but not in phases in which they were classified subtropical.

The values ​​in brackets refer them to the areas west of the 140th meridian, ie the central Pacific Ocean, the east without brackets the area.