2009 East Pacific hurricane season

May 15, 2009 – Nov 30, 2009 · Season ended

The 2009 East Pacific hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 113, 89% of the average.

2008 season 2010 season All East Pacific seasons

Named storms

Avg 15.6 (1991–2020)

Hurricanes

64 kt or stronger · avg 8.4

Major (Cat 3+)

Including 1 Category 5

Accumulated energy

89% of normal

ACE 113 vs 1991–2020 avg 127

Loading map…

Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5

2009 season at a glance

Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 8.4).
Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
Accumulated cyclone energy: 113.4, 89% of the 127 average.
Named-storm days: 64.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
First named storm: Andres, June 21.
First hurricane: Andres, June 23.
First major storm: Felicia, August 5.
Last storm to dissipate: Rick, October 21.
All systems tracked: 20, 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 1E	Jun 16 – Jun 20	TD	1001 mb	Cosalá, Mexico
Andres	Jun 19 – Jun 24	C1	984 mb	—
Blanca	Jul 3 – Jul 12	TS	998 mb	—
Carlos	Jul 8 – Jul 16	C2	971 mb	—
Dolores	Jul 12 – Jul 20	TS	997 mb	—
Lana	Jul 28 – Aug 3	TS	995 mb	—
Felicia	Aug 3 – Aug 12	C4	935 mb	—
Enrique	Aug 3 – Aug 8	TS	994 mb	—
TD 9E	Aug 7 – Aug 15	TD	1006 mb	—
Guillermo	Aug 9 – Aug 23	C3	954 mb	—
Hilda	Aug 20 – Aug 31	TS	995 mb	—
Ignacio	Aug 22 – Aug 28	TS	999 mb	—
Kevin	Aug 26 – Sep 6	TS	1000 mb	—
Jimena	Aug 26 – Sep 5	C4	931 mb	Puerto San Carlos, Mexico
Linda	Sep 3 – Sep 15	C1	985 mb	—
Marty	Sep 13 – Sep 22	TS	1002 mb	—
Nora	Sep 20 – Sep 29	TS	997 mb	—
Olaf	Sep 28 – Oct 4	TS	996 mb	—
Patricia	Oct 8 – Oct 15	TS	996 mb	—
Rick	Oct 14 – Oct 21	C5	906 mb	Mazatlán, Mexico

TD 1E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 2009 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It made landfall near Cosalá, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in June 2009 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in July 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in July 2009 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in July 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Lana: Lana formed in the East Pacific in July 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Felicia: Felicia formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
TD 9E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 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 8 days.
Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in August 2009 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 931 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico and last near Santa Rosalía, Mexico. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in September 2009 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in September 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Patricia: Patricia formed in the East Pacific in October 2009 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Rick: Rick formed in the East Pacific in October 2009 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 906 mb. It made landfall near Mazatlán, Mexico. The system was tracked for 7 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2009

Hurricane Rick was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 180 mph (285 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 906 mb, on October 18. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

2 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 1 matched it. It produced 19% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2009

3 of the season’s 20 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

June 20: TD 1E near Cosalá, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
September 2: Jimena near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
September 2: Jimena near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
September 2: Jimena near Loreto, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
September 4: Jimena near Santa Rosalía, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
October 21: Rick near Mazatlán, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)

How 2009 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 12th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 8 other seasons), 31st for hurricanes (tied with 6 other seasons) and 23rd for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.

2009 storm names

The 2009 season used 18 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Lana, Felicia, Enrique, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Kevin, Jimena, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Patricia, Rick.

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 East Pacific hurricane season had 18 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 20 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Andres and the last was Rick.

What was the strongest storm of 2009?

Hurricane Rick. It peaked at 180 mph (285 km/h, 155 kt) with a lowest pressure of 906 mb on October 18. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 2 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 19% 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, Rick, dissipated on October 21. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.