THE 2009 EASTERN NORTHPACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON: A RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITY

摘要

Tropical cyclone activity during the 2009 eastern North Pacific hurricane season was near average. Seventeen named storms formed, including seven hurricanes, of which four became major hurricanes.1 Although the number of tropical storms and major hurricanes was near average, the number of hurricanes was slightly below average. The total of four major hurricanes was the highest since 2006, the last time mature El Nino conditions were observed over the equatorial tropical Pacific. Three tropical cyclones affected land during the 2009 hurricane season-Hurricane Andres, Hurricane Jimena, and Tropical Storm Rick. In terms of the accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index, 2009 had about 93 percent of the long-term median value.