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| | Hazard: Hurricanes, Tropical Storms or Nor Easters' | | (See Mitigation Page for description on all hazards.) |
| | | | | 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary | | | The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a below-average season. There were a total of nine named storms, three of which were hurricanes. Two of the hurricanes were major (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). Only two tropical storms made landfall in the U.S.: Claudette (Florida) and Ida (Alabama). No hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. in 2009. Hurricane Bill, however, caused widespread coastal flooding from surge and waves along much of the Atlantic coast. High waves and dangerous riptides were of major concern along the coast, including Ocean City, Maryland. Some coastal infrastructure damage also resulted from the high waves at the coast. The official 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Report has not yet been release by the National Hurricane Center. Additional insights can be found at Max Mayfield's Hurricane Blog. | | Storm No. | Name | Month | Max Wind | | 1 | Tropical Depression #1 | May | 35 mph | | 2 | Tropical Storm Ana | Aug | 40 mph | | 3 | Hurricane Bill | Aug | 135 mph | | 4 | Tropical Storm Claudette | Aug | 50 mph | | 5 | Tropical Strom Danny | Aug | 60 mph | | 6 | Tropical Storm Erika | Sep | 60 mph | | 7 | Hurricane Fred | Sep | 120 mph | | 8 | Tropical Depression #8 | Sep | 35 mph | | 9 | Tropical Storm Grace | Oct | 70 mph | | 10 | Tropical Storm Henri | Oct | 50 mph | | 11 | Hurricane Ida | Nov | 105 mph |
| | | | FAQ's | | When does hurricane season officially start and end? | | | Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, however, hurricanes have occured outside of these dates. According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), the dates were selected to encompass 97% of tropical activity.
| | When is peak hurricane season? | | AOML describes the very peak season to be from August to October, with:
78% of the tropical storm days
87% of the "minor" hurricane days
96% of the "major" hurricane days
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**Remeber Hurricane Agnes?? The first named storm in 1972, a rare June hurricane, inflicted more damage than any other hurricane ever recorded at that time.** | | Where can I monitor active storms? | | The National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Weather Service's Tropical Prediction Center.
| | Where should I go to find out what is happening locally? | | When severe weather is forecasted, it is important for residents and business owners to monitor the situation and act proactively to protect themselves, their family and their property. Local officials have a variety of ways to get information to the public. Emergency Information Sources. | | |
Surviving The Storm: Anne Arundel County's Official Guide to Emergency Preparedness has information on emergency preparedness kits, local shelters and evacuation routes, creating a plan including one for your pet, as well as a list of important phone numbers and websites that you should keep handy in the event of an emergency. Open/Print a Guide.
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| | Tropical Cyclones - The Basics | | A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is an organization of thunderstorms. In the Northern Hemisphere cyclones have a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth's surface. Hurricanes can produce violent winds, extremely large waves, torrential rains, floods, and can spawn tornadoes.Tropical cyclones are classified by strength and organized into the following: |
| | | Tropical Cyclones | Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale | Tropical Depression
An organization of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 35 mph or less. | Storm | Winds | Storm Surge | Characteristics | | Tropical Storm | 39-73 mph | | - Example: Isabel (Maryland) | | Category 1 | 74-95 mph | 4-5 ft | No real damage to buildings. Damage to
unanchored mobile homes. Some damage
to poorly constructed signs. Also, some
coastal flooding and minor pier damage.
- Examples: Irene 1999 and Allison 1995
| | Tropical Storm
An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface
circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph.
| Category 2 | 96-110 mph | 6-8 ft | Some damage to building roofs, doors and windows. Considerable damage to mobile homes. Flooding damages piers and small craft in unprotected moorings may break their moorings. Some trees blown down.
- Examples: Bonnie 1998, Georges(FL & LA) 1998 and Gloria 1985
| | | Category 3 | 111-130 mph | 9-12 ft | Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings. Large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly built signs destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland.
- Examples: Keith 2000, Fran 1996, Opal 1995, Alicia 1983 and Betsy 1965
| Hurricane
An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher | Category 4 | 131-155 mph | 13-18 ft | More extensive curtain-wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland.
- Examples: Hugo 1989 and Donna 1960
| | | Category 5 | 156 mph and up | 18+ ft | Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required.
- Examples: Andrew(FL) 1992, Camille 1969 and Labor Day 1935 |
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