2009 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 2009 – Nov 30, 2009 · Season ended
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season produced 9 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 53, 43% of the average.
2009 season at a glance
- Named storms: 9 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 3 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 52.6, 43% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 30.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ana, August 12.
- First hurricane: Bill, August 17.
- First major storm: Bill, August 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Ida, November 11.
- All systems tracked: 11, including 2 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 2009 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1L | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Ana | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Bill | – | C4 | 943 mb | Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
| Claudette | – | TS | 1005 mb | Destin, United States |
| Danny | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| Erika | – | TS | 1004 mb | Le Moule, Guadeloupe |
| Fred | – | C3 | 958 mb | — |
| TD 8L | – | TD | 1008 mb | — |
| Grace | – | TS | 986 mb | — |
| Henri | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Ida | – | C2 | 975 mb | Pearl City, Nicaragua |
- TD 1L: This system formed in the Atlantic in May 2009 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Bill: Bill formed in the Atlantic in August 2009 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mb. It made landfall near Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It made landfall near Destin, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Erika: Erika formed in the Atlantic in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Le Moule, Guadeloupe. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Fred: Fred formed in the Atlantic in September 2009 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Grace: Grace formed in the Atlantic in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Henri: Henri formed in the Atlantic in October 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Ida: Ida formed in the Atlantic in November 2009 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It made landfall near Pearl City, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2009
Hurricane Bill was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 943 mb, on August 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 8 matched it. It produced 50% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2009
4 of the season’s 11 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2009 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 36th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms, 40th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 37th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
2009 storm names
The 2009 season used 9 names: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida.
2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2009 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2009?
The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season had 9 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 11 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Ana and the last was Ida.
What was the strongest storm of 2009?
Hurricane Bill. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 943 mb on August 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 76 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 50% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2009 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2009, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Ida, dissipated on November 11. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.