November 30th marks the end of the 2009 hurricane season.  This year’s activity was below average with nine named storms, three hurricanes (Bill, Fred and Ida) and two major (category 3 or greater) hurricanes (Bill and Fred).  In an “average” hurricane season, there are eleven named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.  The 2009 season had the fewest named storms since 1997.  The reduced activity this year was caused by El Nino.  Wind shear in the Atlantic Basin resulted in fewer and short-lived storms.  Although a couple of Tropical Storms made landfall in the United States, there were no hurricane landfalls in the U.S. this year.

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Ida is pretty healthy right now.  With sustained winds of 105 mph as of the 6PM CDT update, Ida is a strong category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Tomorrow and Tuesday, Ida should start to weaken as it encounters more upper-level wind shear and moves into somewhat cooler waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Ida is expected to make landfall between eastern Louisiana and the Florida panhandle late Monday or early Tuesday.  No one really knows how strong the storm will be at that point.  Ida will be interesting to watch to say the least.  We’ll keep you posted.

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Typically the peak of hurricane season is during mid-September.  However, after “Fred” fizzled out over the weekend, we are left without any named storms in the Atlantic Basin (which is completely fine with me).  Activity typically starts to wind down late September through October, but don’t let your guard down yet.  If we get another named storm, the next one on the list is “Grace.”

The National Hurricane Center currently has the remnants of Fred highlighted but does not expect re-generation into a tropical system.

Atlantic Basin Satellite Image

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Yes,  Ana and Bill- the first two tropical storms of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season.  Both storms are still way out in the Atlantic Ocean, but the Antilles are in the storms’ paths.  If you know anyone in the Caribbean, you may want to give them a heads up about the storms.  If Ana continues the southern track it could move into the Gulf of Mexico… there is a LOT of uncertainty with both storms though.  Bill is forecast to strengthen more than Ana and is forecast to make a bigger turn to the northwest.  No one knows where these storms will go, but we’ll be monitoring!  Stay tuned as we bring you the latest information from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storms Ana and Bill in the Atlantic

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Hurricane season is off to a slow start this year.  In fact right now, 2009 is #5 in the top latest hurricane season starts since 1954. 

2009 just replaced 2004 (Alex formed on July 31 of that year).  The top four years are:

#4  Andrew:  August 16, 1992

#3  Alma:  August 26, 1962

#2 Arlene:  August 28, 1967

#1 Anita: August 29, 1977

However, just because this hurricane season is starting “later than usual,” doesn’t mean we won’t have powerful hurricanes this year.  Look at #4 on the list above.  Remember Hurricane Andrew that roared through south Florida in 1992?

Just some food for thought. 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson