Throughout 2009, 130 tropical cyclones formed in bodies of water known as tropical cyclone basins. Of these, 81 were named, including a Subtropical cyclone in the South Atlantic Ocean, by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of . The strongest storm of the year was Typhoon Nida in the Western Pacific Ocean. The deadliest and costliest storm of the year was Typhoon Morakot (Kiko), causing 789 fatalities and $6.2 billion worth of damages through its track in the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, China, and the Korean Peninsula. Throughout the year, twenty-one Category 3 tropical cyclones formed, including five Category 5 tropical cyclones in the year. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2009 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 609.6 units.
Tropical cyclones are primarily monitored by a group of ten warning centres, which have been designated as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) by the World Meteorological Organization. These are the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Météo-France, Indonesia's Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Papua New Guinea's National Weather Service, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) as well as New Zealand's MetService. Other notable warning centres include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.
Global atmospheric and hydrological conditions The 2009–10 El Niño event started in the Pacific Ocean during May 2009, and it would peak in December of the year.
Summary
North Atlantic Ocean
The North Atlantic featured a below-average event in tropical cyclone formation that produced only 11 tropical cyclones, 9 named storms, 3 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. Like a typical Atlantic hurricane season, it officially began on Monday, June 1, 2009, and ended on Monday, November 30, 2009. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin. Activity began slightly early when Tropical Depression One developed on May 28, marking the third and last consecutive season with a pre-season storm. The final storm, Hurricane Ida, dissipated on November 10. Hurricane Bill, the first hurricane, major hurricane, and most intense hurricane was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that affected areas from the Leeward Islands to Newfoundland. With only 11 tropical depressions and 9 named storms, the 2009 season featured the lowest number of tropical cyclones since the 1997 season, and only one system, Claudette, made landfall in the United States. Forming from the interaction of a tropical wave and an upper-level low, Claudette made landfall on the Florida Panhandle with maximum sustained winds of before quickly dissipating over Alabama. The storm killed two people and caused $228,000 (2009 USD) in damage. Overall, the season's activity was reflected with a very low cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of only 53, the lowest since 1997. Because of the low number of storms in the 2009 season, many of which were weak, short-lived, and/or very disorganized, the overall ACE value was ranked as below-average, totaling under 66. Being the most intense hurricane, Hurricane Bill was responsible for the ACE value for August being 30% above average. 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 or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total.
Eastern & Central Pacific Oceans
The Eastern and Central Pacific featured their most active Pacific hurricane season since 1994. The season officially started on Friday, May 15, 2009, in the East Pacific Ocean, and on Monday, June 1, 2009, in the Central Pacific; they both ended on Monday, November 30, 2009. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year. There were no off-season storms, as the season began relatively late, and ended very early. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2009 Pacific hurricane season was 117.09 units in the Eastern Pacific and 9.905 units in the Central Pacific. The total ACE in the basin combined is 126.995 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of . The season, however, was characterized as "near-normal", featuring 17 named storms 8 hurricanes and 5 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 led 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, again, 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 or tropical storm strength.
Western Pacific Ocean
The Western Pacific featured a below average event that spawned only 22 named storms, 13 typhoons, and five super typhoons. It was also recognized as the deadliest season in the Philippines for decades. The first half of the season was very quiet whereas the second half of the season was extremely active. The season's first named storm, Kujira, developed on May 3 while the season's last named storm, Nida, dissipated on December 3. Nida was the most intense of the whole year worldwide.
North Indian Ocean
The North Indian Ocean featured a generally below average event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It featured 8 depressions, 6 deep depressions, 4 cyclonic storms, and 1 severe cyclonic storm. No classifications higher. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
Systems There have been 128 tropical disturbances that have formed in 2009, marking an above-average year in tropical cyclone formation throughout the world. One was believed to have formed in the South Atlantic Ocean in late January, and was unofficially added in the 2009 advisories. 82 further intensified to tropical storms, and each received named from each tropical cyclone agency.
January During January 2009, a total of 14 tropical cyclones formed, while 8 were named. The Cyclone Fanele was the most intense of the month, reaching category 4 on the SSHWS scale, with a barometric pressure of 930 mbar. The other storms were relatively weak, with a force equivalent to a tropical storm. A rare subtropical system was reported in the southern Atlantic, affecting the southern coasts of Brazil and Uruguay. No major damage or death was reported. +Tropical cyclones formed in January 2009Storm nameDates activeMax windkm/h (mph)Pressure(hPa)Areas affectedDamage(USD)DeathsRefsAuringJanuary 3–645 (30)1006Philippines$498 thousand204FJanuary 4–14Unspecified1001Fiji$64.2 million12DongoJanuary 7–1295 (60)984NoneNoneNoneCharlotteJanuary 10–1285 (50)986Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula$15 millionNone05FJanuary 11–1455 (35)999NoneNoneNone07UJanuary 11–1235 (25)1000NoneNoneNoneEricJanuary 16–2295 (60)991MadagascarMinimal2FaneleJanuary 17–22185 (115)930MadagascarUnknown1006FJanuary 19–2355 (35)1005NoneNoneNone07FJanuary 23–2565 (40)1006NoneNoneNoneHettieJanuary 24–3165 (40)995NoneNoneNoneDominicJanuary 24–27100 (65)976Kimberley, PilbaraUnknownNone01QJanuary 29 – February 1UnspecifiedUnspecifiedBrazil (Rio de Janeiro), UruguayUnknownUnknownEllieJanuary 30 – February 475 (45)988Cape York$69.5 millionNone
February
February was moderately active +Tropical cyclones formed in February 2009Storm nameDates activeMax windkm/h (mph)Pressure(hPa)Areas affectedDamage(USD)DeathsRefsGaelFebruary 1 – 9185 (115)930MadagascarUnknown209FFebruary 1 – 555 (35)998New CaledoniaUnknownUnknownFreddyFebruary 3 – 1385 (50)992NoneNoneNone11UFebruary 4 – 6UnspecifiedUnspecifiedNoneNoneNone12UFebruary 11 – 17<35 (<25)UnspecifiedWestern AustraliaUnknownNoneBisingFebruary 12 – 1345 (30)1002PhilippinesNoneNoneInnisFebruary 13 – 1875 (45)990Vanuatu, New CaledoniaMinimal114UFebruary 23 – March 2<35 (<25)UnspecifiedWestern AustraliaUnknownNoneHinaFebruary 20 – 26105 (65)976NoneNoneNoneGabrielleFebruary 27 – March 665 (40)996NoneNoneNone
March
March was moderately active +Tropical cyclones formed in March 2009Storm nameDates activeMax windkm/h (mph)Pressure(hPa)Areas affectedDamage(USD)DeathsRefsHamishMarch 4–11215 (130)924 Queensland$38.8 million210March 6–1055 (35)997NoneNoneNoneJoniMarch 10–1495 (60)980Cook IslandsMinorUnknownIlsaMarch 12–27165 (105)958NoneNoneNoneKenMarch 16–1995 (60)985NoneUnknownNone19UMarch 16–2045 (30)999NoneNoneNoneIzildaMarch 22–27110 (70)978NoneNoneNoneJasperMarch 22–30100 (60)980New CaledoniaMinimalNone21UMarch 23–3155 (35)1002NoneNoneNoneLinMarch 31 – April 7110 (70)975Fiji, Tonga$920 thousandNone
April
April was relatively inactive, +Tropical cyclones formed in April 2009Storm nameDates activeMax windkm/h (mph)Pressure(hPa)Areas affectedDamage(USD)DeathsRefsJadeApril 3 – 10110 (70)975MadagascarUnknown1515FApril 7 – 1035 (25)1004NoneNoneNone22UApril 4 – 11 35 (25)1004NoneNoneNoneBijliApril 14 – 1775 (45)996Eastern India, Bangladesh, MyanmarUnknown3KirrilyApril 18 – May 165 (40)999IndonesiaMinimalNoneCrisingApril 30 – May 155 (35)UnspecifiedPhilippinesNoneNone
May
May was relatively inactive, +Tropical cyclones formed in May 2009Storm nameDates activeMax windkm/h (mph)Pressure(hPa)Areas affectedDamage(USD)DeathsRefsKujira (Dante)May 1 – 7155 (100)940 Philippines, Russian Far East$27 million28TDMay 1 – 455 (35)1004NoneNoneNoneChan-hom (Emong)May 2 – 9120 (75)975Vietnam, Philippines, Ryukyu Islands$26.1 million6024UMay 10 – 18 35 (25)1009NoneNoneNoneAilaMay 23 – 26110 (70)968India, Bangladesh$553 million330OneMay 28 – 2955 (35)1006North CarolinaNoneNone
June
June was relatively inactive with six tropical cyclones and three tropical storm-equivalent cyclones forming. Hurricane Andres gave the 2009 Pacific hurricane season a late start when it formed on June 21 (the latest start on record until the record was beaten exactly a decade later when Alvin formed on June 25, 2019, then later in 2023 and 2024 with Adrian and Aletta forming on June 27, 2023, and July 4, 2024, respectively).