Season Summary
The 2009 eastern Pacific season was characterized as "near-normal", featuring 17 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. The central Pacific experienced above-average activity with three additional storms forming west of 140°W and three more crossing over from the eastern Pacific. The overall number of storms contrasted to a relative lull in activity experienced over the previous decade. During the course of the year, large-scale factors such as an El Niño and two Madden–Julian oscillations greatly contributed to the changed pattern. The season's activity, east of 140°W, was reflected with a near-average cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 100, roughly 94% of the 30-year median. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
The 2009 season started at a below-average pace, with only one named storm forming by the end of June. This marked the first time since 2000 that no tropical storms formed during the month of May; however, on average only one storm develops in the month every other year. The ten year span of May named storms marked the longest occurrence of this event. The first hurricane of the year, Hurricane Andres, also became the first June hurricane since Hurricane Carlotta in 2000. Below-average activity continued into July with four named storms forming. By the end of the month, season to date ACE values were roughly 37% of the long-term mean, the sixth lowest since reliable records began in 1971.
An abrupt shift in activity took place during August as seven named storms formed, three of which became major hurricanes. This marked the most storms to form in a single month since 1985 and the most in August since 1968. Of these storms, Hurricane Jimena became the first cyclone of the season to make landfall, as well as the strongest storm to strike the west coast Baja California Sur, alongside Hurricane Norbert in 2008. Following the well-above average August, September experienced below-average activity with ACE reaching 70% of the long-term mean. The final month of activity featured the second-strongest storm on record in the eastern Pacific: Hurricane Rick. A Category 5 storm, Rick attained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) off the coast of Mexico on October 18 before succumbing to increased wind shear and dry air. ACE for the month was 59% above average, mostly attributed to Rick.
See also: Timeline of the 2009 Pacific hurricane seasonRead more about this topic: 2009 Pacific Hurricane Season
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