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i

NASA/TP—2009–215741

An Extended Forecast of the Frequencies

of North Atlantic Basin Tropical 

Cyclone Activity for 2009

Robert M. Wilson

Marshall Space Flight Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

March 2009

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Marshall Space Flight Center • MSFC, Alabama 35812
ii

Available from:

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7115 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076 –1320

443–757–5802

This report is also available in electronic form at

<https://www2.sti.nasa.gov>
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1

2. THE 2008 HURRICANE SEASON .................................................................................. 2

3. THE 2009 HURRICANE SEASON .................................................................................. 4

3.1 Tropical Cyclone Frequencies (1950–2008) ................................................................... 4

3.2 Poisson Distributions .................................................................................................... 4

3.3 The Effects of El Niño and La Niña ............................................................................. 8

3.4 First-Differences in 10-Year Moving Average Frequencies ............................................ 11

3.5 The Role of Temperature and Decadal-Length Oscillation ........................................... 13

4. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 19

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 41
iv

LIST OF FIGURES

1. Yearly counts and distributions of North Atlantic basin (a) tropical cyclones, 

(b) hurricanes, and (c) major hurricanes, and (d)–(f) their frequencies, 

respectively .................................................................................................................. 5

2. Distribution of first differences of 10-yma of North Atlantic basin (1950–2002)

(a) tropical cyclones, (b) hurricanes, and (c) major hurricanes ..................................... 12

3. Surface air temperature yearly values from the (a) Armagh Observatory 

and sea-surface temperature anomaly yearly values using (b) ONI .............................. 14

4. Temperature distribution first differences of 10-yma from the (a) Armagh 

Observatory and (b) ONI ............................................................................................. 17

5. Comparison of predicted and observed 10-yma for (a) NTC, (b) NH, 

and (c) NMH ............................................................................................................... 18
v

LIST OF TABLES

 1. The 2008 North Atlantic basin hurricane season summary ...................................... 3

 2. Means, standard deviations, ranges, and sums of NTC, NH, and NMH 

based on 1950–2008 statistics, assuming the existence of high- and lowactivity intervals ....................................................................................................... 6

 3. Poisson distributions for NTC, NH, and NMH based on 1950–2008 statistics ......... 7

 4. Poisson distributions for NTC, NH, and NMH based on 1950–2008 statistics 

and assuming the existence of high- and low-activity intervals ................................. 8

 5. Event listing of EN and LN, based on ONI using ERSST.v3 ................................... 10

 6. Statistical summary of EN and LN events ............................................................... 11

 7. Linear and bi-variate correlations based on 10-yma values: (a) Linear 

regression fits against AT, (b) linear regression fits against ONI, 

and (c) bi-variate fits against AT and ONI ................................................................ 15

 8. Linear and bi-variate correlations based on the 1995–2002 10-yma values:

(a) Linear regression fits against AT, (b) linear regression fits against ONI, 

and (c) bi-variate fits against AT and ONI ................................................................ 16

 9. Summary of yearly and 10-yma values for NTC, NH, NMH, AT,

and ONI (1950–2008) ............................................................................................... 19

10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) ............................. 21

11. Monthly counts of NTC, NH, and NMH based on ONI condition

(1950–2008) .............................................................................................................. 37
vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS

10-yma 10-yr moving average

AT Armagh Observatory temperature

CSU Colorado State University

EN El Niño

ERSST.v3 Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature, version 3

LN La Niña

LP lowest pressure (in mb)

<LP> average lowest pressure (in mb)

NH number of hurricanes

NMH number of major (category 3 or higher) hurricanes

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NTC number of tropical cyclones

ONI Oceanic Niño Index

PWS peak wind speed (in kt)

<PWS> average peak wind speed (in kt)

TP Technical Publication

TSR Tropical Storm Risk (team)

U.S. United States
vii

NOMENCLATURE

cl confidence level

d estimate of first difference (in 10-yma values)

Dur duration (in months)

<Dur> average duration (in months)

f frequency

m mean

<max ONI> average maximum ONI value (in oC)

P(r) probability of r events occurring 

r number of events in Poisson distribution; coefficient of correlation

r2 coefficient of determination

sd standard deviation 

se standard error of estimate

X variable of NTC, NH, or NMH
viii
1

TECHNICAL PUBLICATION

AN EXTENDED FORECAST OF THE FREQUENCIES OF NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN 

TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY FOR 2009

1. INTRODUCTION

Each year, usually beginning in December prior to an upcoming hurricane season, which 

officially runs from June 1 through November 30, various groups project estimates for the number of 

tropical cyclones (NTC) (those with sustained winds of 34 kt or greater; to convert to mph, multiply 

by 1.151), number of hurricanes (NH) (those with sustained winds of 64 kt or greater), and number 

of major hurricanes (NMH) (those with sustained winds of 96 kt or greater) expected in the North 

Atlantic basin, these storms possibly affecting the highly populated regions along the Gulf coast and 

Atlantic seaboard from Texas to Maine in the United States (U.S.). The two groups giving extended 

forecasts in December include the Colorado State University (CSU) team and the Tropical Storm 

Risk (TSR) team (in the United Kingdom). As the season approaches and throughout the season, 

updates to their original forecasts are provided as well. The official forecast is given in May prior to 

the official start of the hurricane season by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA).

The purpose of this Technical Publication (TP) is to provide yet another early estimate of the 

expected tropical cyclone development in the North Atlantic basin for the 2009 hurricane season, 

one based on previous and continuing work performed at Marshall Space Flight Center over the past 

decade.1–9 Additional material will follow in a subsequent TP closer to the official start of the 2009 

hurricane season.
2

2. THE 2008 HURRICANE SEASON

For the 2008 hurricane season, the CSU team predicted 15 tropical cyclones forming in 

the North Atlantic basin, 8 becoming hurricanes and 4 becoming major (or intense) hurricanes. 

The TSR team predicted 10–19 tropical cyclones, 5–10 becoming hurricanes and 2–5 becoming 

major hurricanes. NOAA’s official outlook called for 12–16 tropical cyclones, 6–9 hurricanes, and 

2–5 major hurricanes. Presuming first differences in 10-yr moving averages (10-yma) of storm frequencies comparable to the post-1990 means (m) suggested that, perhaps as many as 16 tropical 

cyclones, 12 hurricanes, and 7 major hurricanes might have been expected in the North Atlantic 

basin during the 2008 hurricane season. Thus, all predictions leant toward increased activity above 

long-term averages in the North Atlantic basin during 2008. As it turned out, the predictions were 

fairly accurate. During the 2008 hurricane season, 16 tropical cyclones, including 8 hurricanes 

and 5 major hurricanes, formed in the North Atlantic basin, three striking the U.S. coastline with 

hurricane-strength winds.

Table 1 lists the 16 tropical cyclones that occurred in the 2008 North Atlantic basin hurricane season, giving their names, classification, occurrence dates, peak wind speeds (PWSs) (in kt) 

and lowest pressures (LP) (in mb). Comprehensive information for each tropical cyclone can be 

found at <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2008atlan.shtml> and at <http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/

forecasts>.10,11

From table 1, one determines that Gustav had the highest PWS (130 kt) and Ike had the lowest pressure (935 mb) during the 2008 North Atlantic basin hurricane season. The 16 storms had 

a combined average peak wind speed (<PWS>) of ≈77 kt and a combined average lowest pressure 

(<LP>) of ≈977 mb, both values indicative of strengthening when compared to similar values from 

the 2007 hurricane season (<PWS>=66 kt and <LP>=986 mb).
3

Table 1. The 2008 North Atlantic basin hurricane season summary.

Storm Name Classification Dates PWS (kt) LP (mb)

Arthur TS May 31–June 1 40 1,004

Bertha MH July 3–20 110 952

Cristobal TS July 19–23 55 998

Dolly H July 20–24 85 964

Edouard TS August 3–6 55 996

Fay TS August 15–24 55 986

Gustav MH August 25–September 2 130 941

Hanna H August 28–September 7 75 977

Ike MH September 1–14 125 935

Josephine TS September 2–6 55 994

Kyle H September 25–29 75 984

Laura STS September 29–October 1 50 993

Marco TS October 6–7 55 998

Nana TS October 12–14 35 1,004

Omar MH October 14–18 110 959

Paloma MH November 6–9 125 943

Classification:

H =Hurricane

MH =Major hurricane

STS =Subtropical storm

TS =Tropical storm
4

3. THE 2009 HURRICANE SEASON

3.1 Tropical Cyclone Frequencies (1950–2008)

Figure 1(a) displays NTC, (b) NH, and (c) NMH that formed in the North Atlantic basin 

during the interval 1950–2008, both in terms of yearly counts and 10-yma. Hence, during the interval 1950–2008, spanning 59 hurricane seasons, on average, there have been ≈11 tropical cyclones per 

year forming in the North Atlantic basin of which ≈6 became hurricanes and about 2 or 3 became 

major hurricanes. The yearly ranges span 4 to 28 for NTC, 2 to 15 for NH, and zero to 8 for NMH. 

Also shown are the standard deviations (sd) for the entire interval and the means (m) and standard 

deviations (sd) for the most recent interval, 1995–2008, an interval of enhanced activity. To the right 

of each panel are the observed frequency distributions, indicating that the primary modes are 8 and 

11 for NTC, 4 and 6 for NH, and 2 for NMH. While the distributions for NTC and NH appear quite 

broad (possibly bi-modal), the distribution for NMH appears rather peaked, although all distributions are obviously rightward (or positively) skewed towards higher frequencies.

Noticeable in each is that the trend line; i.e., the 10-yma line, has increased above the longterm average, indicating that the present epoch (in particular, since 1995) is one of increased activity, 

especially as compared to the immediately preceding years; i.e., mid-1960s to mid-1990s). Since 1995, 

12 of 14 yr have had NTC greater than its long-term mean, with only 1997 and 2006 having NTC 

falling below the mean, both years experiencing El Niño (EN) events during the hurricane season. 

Similarly, 10 of 14 yr have had NH and NMH exceeding their long-term averages.

Table 2 gives the mean, standard deviation, range, and sum for selected intervals of time for 

NTC, NH, and NMH, presuming two high-activity intervals (1950–1965 and 1995–2008) separated 

by one low-activity interval (1966–1994), the two combined high-activity intervals being about the 

same duration as the intermediate low-activity interval. Interestingly, the current high-activity interval (since 1995) has means larger than both the preceding high-activity (1950–1965) and low-activity 

(1966–1994) intervals. In fact, the difference in means is highly statistically significant when comparing the current high-activity interval with either previous interval for NTC, but is only statistically 

significant for NH and NMH when comparing the current high-activity interval with the immediately preceding low-activity interval. Also given are the mean, standard deviation, range, and sum for 

the combined high-activity intervals, which suggests that, on average, one should expect at least two 

or more NTC, NH, and NMH as compared to the low-activity interval.

3.2 Poisson Distributions

Because counts of tropical cyclones are computed for a given time interval; i.e., events per 

year, one can use the Poisson distribution12 to determine the probability for a given number of events 

occurring during the year. The formula for the Poisson distribution may be written as

P(r) = (e–mmr)/r! , (1)
5

1950

∑NH = 369

m = 6.3

sd = 2.6

∑NH (1995–2008) = 112

m (1995–2008) = 8.0

sd (1995–2008) = 3.0

 ∑NMH = 159

m = 2.7

sd = 2.0

∑NMH (1995–2008) = 54

m (1995–2008) = 3.9

sd (1995–2008) = 1.8

∑NTC = 639

m = 10.8

sd = 4.0

1950–2008 (59 yr)

∑NTC (1995–2008) = 208

m (1995–2008) = 14.9

sd (1995–2008) = 4.7

m (2.7)m (6.3)

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 20 15 10 5

105

(f)

20 15 10 5

2015105

(e)

20 15 10 5

30252015105

(d)

10

5

Year Frequency

NMH

(c)

m (10.8)Long-termLong-termLong-term

302520

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1510

5

NTC

(a)

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

201510

0500

000

00

0

NH

NTC NH NMH (b)

Yearly Counts10-yma

Figure 1. Yearly counts and distributions of North Atlantic basin (a) tropical cyclones, (b) hurricanes, and (c) major

hurricanes, and (d)–(f) their frequencies, respectively.
6

Table 2. Means, standard deviations, ranges, and sums of NTC, NH, and NMH based 

on 1950–2008 statistics, assuming the existence of high- and low-activity intervals.

Interval: 1950–1965 1966–1994 1995–2008 Combined

Activity: High Low High High

NTC:

m 9.63 9.55 14.86 12.07

sd 2.60 3.00 4.67 4.51

range 5–14 4–18 8–28 5–28

sum 154 277 208 362

NH:

m 6.31 5.38 8.00 7.10

sd 2.27 2.09 3.04 2.75

range 3–11 2–12 3–15 3–15

sum 101 156 112 213

NMH:

m 3.63 1.62 3.86 3.73

sd 2.25 1.15 1.83 2.03

range 1–8 0–5 1–7 1–8

sum 58 47 54 112

where r is the number of events per year (presuming a random distribution), P(r) is the probability 

of r events occurring per year, and m is the mean number of events occurring per year.

Table 3 gives the probabilities using the Poisson distribution for NTC, NH, and NMH, presuming that each grouping is distributed randomly. In the table, f is the observed frequency for r

during the overall interval 1950–2008. One finds that there is an 87.5% probability that NTC during 

any given year will always lie in the range of 6 to 15. There is only a 4.2% probability of having fewer 

than 6 events in a year and about an 8.2% probability of having 16 or more events in a year. For NH, 

there is an 84.4% probability of always having 3–9 events in a year, with only a 5% probability of 

having fewer than 3 events in a year and a 10.6% probability of having 10 or more events in a year. 

For NMH, there is a 79.6% probability of always having 1–4 events in a year, with only a 6.7% probability of having no events in a year and a 13.7% probability of having 5 or more events in a year.

Table 4 gives the probabilities using the Poisson distribution for NTC, NH, and NMH, but 

now presuming that two activity modes (high and low) exist with each being distributed randomly 

about its corresponding mean. For the high-activity mode (which is the one now being experienced), 

there is a probability of ≈75.3% of always having NTC in the range of 8 to 15 per year, with only 

an 8.6% probability of having fewer than 8 events per year and a 16.1% probability of having 16 or 

more events per year. For NH, there is an 81.8% probability of always having 4–10 events per year, 

with only a 7.7% probability of having fewer than 4 events per year and 10.6% probability of having 

11 or more events per year. For NMH, there is an 89.2% probability of always having 1–6 events per 

year, with only a 2.4% probability of having no events per year and an 8.4% probability of having 

7 or more events per year. Because the trend lines are now above long-term averages for all categories 
7

Table 3. Poisson distributions for NTC, NH, and NMH based on 1950–2008 statistics.

No. of 

Events

NTC

(m= 10.8)

NH

(m= 6.3)

NMH

(m= 2.7)

f P(r) f P(r) f P(r)

 0 0 0.00002 0 0.00184 4 0.06721

 1 0 0.00022 0 0.01157 14 0.18145

 2 0 0.00119 1 0.03644 17 0.24496

 3 0 0.00428 7 0.07653 9 0.22047

 4 1 0.01156 10 0.12053 2 0.14882

 5 1 0.02498 5 0.15187 6 0.08036

 6 4 0.04496 10 0.15946 4 0.03616

 7 6 0.06937 8 0.14352 2 0.01395

 8 8 0.09365 7 0.11302 1 0.00471

 9 3 0.11238 5 0.07911 0 0.00141

10 5 0.12137 1 0.04984 0 0.00038

11 8 0.11916 2 0.02855 0 0.00009

12 7 0.10724 1 0.01499 0 0.00002

13 4 0.08909 0 0.00726 0 0.00000

14 3 0.06873 0 0.00327

15 4 0.04949 1 0.00137

16 2 0.03340 0 0.00054

17 0 0.02122 0 0.00020

18 1 0.01273 0 0.00007

19 1 0.00724 0 0.00002

20 0 0.00391 0 0.00001

21 0 0.00201 0 0.00000

22 0 0.00099

23 0 0.00046

24 0 0.00021

25 0 0.00009

26 0 0.00004

27 0 0.00001

28 1 0.00001

29 0 0.00000

(NTC, NH, and NMH), one probably should expect yearly seasonal frequencies for the 2009 North 

Atlantic basin hurricane season to remain above average in number. (The reader is left to determine 

the preferred probabilities for the low-activity mode, a simple exercise.)
8

Table 4. Poisson distributions for NTC, NH, and NMH based on 1950–2008 statistics 

and assuming the existence of high- and low-activity intervals.

No. of 

Events

High-Activity Mode (1950–1965, 1995–2008) Low-Activity Mode (1966–1994)

NTC (m=12.07) NH (m=7.10) NMH (m=3.73) NTC (m=9.55) NH (m=5.38) NMH (m=1.62)

f P(r) f P(r) f P(r) f P(r) f P(r) f P(r)

0 0 0.00001 0 0.00083 0 0.02399 0 0.00007 0 0.00461 4 0.19790

1 0 0.00007 0 0.00586 3 0.08949 0 0.00068 0 0.02479 11 0.32060

2 0 0.00042 0 0.02080 9 0.16690 0 0.00325 1 0.06669 8 0.25968

3 0 0.00168 3 0.04922 4 0.20752 0 0.01034 4 0.11959 5 0.14023

4 0 0.00507 4 0.08736 2 0.19351 1 0.02468 6 0.16085 0 0.05679

5 1 0.01223 1 0.12406 5 0.14436 0 0.04713 5 0.17307 1 0.01840

6 1 0.02460 4 0.14680 4 0.08974 3 0.07502 6 0.15519 0 0.00497

7 2 0.04242 4 0.14890 2 0.04782 4 0.10235 4 0.11927 0 0.00115

8 3 0.06400 6 0.13215 1 0.02230 5 0.12218 1 0.08021 0 0.00023

9 1 0.08584 4 0.10425 0 0.00924 2 0.12964 1 0.04795 0 0.00004

10 3 0.10360 1 0.07402 0 0.00345 2 0.12381 0 0.02580 0 0.00001

11 3 0.11368 2 0.04777 0 0.00117 5 0.10749 0 0.01262 0 0.00000

12 4 0.11434 0 0.02827 0 0.00036 3 0.08554 1 0.00566

13 2 0.10616 0 0.01544 0 0.00010 2 0.06284 0 0.00234

14 2 0.09153 0 0.00783 0 0.00003 1 0.04287 0 0.00090

15 4 0.07365 1 0.00371 0 0.00001 0 0.02729 0 0.00032

16 2 0.05556 0 0.00164 0 0.00000 0 0.01629 0 0.00011

17 0 0.03945 0 0.00069 0 0.00915 0 0.00003

18 0 0.02645 0 0.00027 1 0.00486 0 0.00001

19 1 0.01680 0 0.00010 0 0.00244 0 0.00000

20 0 0.01014 0 0.00004 0 0.00117

21 0 0.00583 0 0.00001 0 0.00053

22 0 0.00320 0 0.00000 0 0.00023

23 0 0.00168 0 0.00010

24 0 0.00084 0 0.00004

25 0 0.00041 0 0.00001

26 0 0.00019 0 0.00000

27 0 0.00008

28 1 0.00004

29 0 0.00002

30 0 0.00001

31 0 0.00000

3.3 The Effects of El Niño and La Niña

Across the bottom of figure 1(a) is a series of filled and unfilled triangles representing, respectively, the occurrences of La Niña (LN) (13 cold) and El Niño (EN) (17 warm) events as determined 

using the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). The ONI is based on a 3-mo running means of version 3 of the 
9

extended reconstructed sea surface temperature (ERSST.v3 SST) anomalies in the Niño 3.4 region 

(located at 5o N. to 5o S. latitude and 120o W. to 170o W. longitude) based on the 1971–2000 base 

period, available at <http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensoyears.

shtml>13. The ONI has become the de facto means of defining the occurrences of LN and EN 

events. When the ONI has at least a 5-mo continuous value of 5 oC or warmer, an EN event is said 

to be occurring, while when the ONI has at least a 5-mo continuous value of –5 oC or cooler, an LN 

event is said to be occurring. All other times are said to be representative of neutral conditions.

Table 5 lists the 13 LN and 17 EN events determined using ONI during the interval 1950–

2008. The start and end times are given for each event, as well as the duration (in months, from 

beginning to end), the maximum negative or positive value of the ONI for the event, the event type, 

the strength of the event, and the sum of NTC, NH, and NMH that occurred during each event.

Table 6 summarizes event statistics. For example, during the interval of 1950–2008 (708 mo) 

17 EN events were determined using ONI. These 17 events spanned some 167 mo or 23.6% of the 

interval 1950–2008 and, on average, each EN persisted ≈10 mo, having a maximum ONI value of 

1.4 oC. During the 17 EN events, 135 tropical cyclones occurred (21.1% of the total), including 

73 hurricanes (19.8% of the total) and 26 major hurricanes (16.3% of the total), suggesting ≈8 tropical cyclones per event, with ≈4 becoming hurricanes and of these, about 1–2 becoming a major 

hurricane. In contrast, the 13 LN events spanned 191 mo or 27% of the interval 1950–2008 and, 

on average, each LN persisted about 15 mo, having a maximum ONI value of –1.4 oC. During the 

13 LN events, 176 tropical cyclones occurred (27.5% of the total), including 104 hurricanes (28.2% 

of the total) and 49 major hurricanes (30.8% of the total), suggesting about 13–14 tropical cyclones 

per event, with ≈8 becoming hurricanes and of these, ≈4 becoming major hurricanes. Thus, about 

half the time, the ONI reflected neutral conditions and about three-quarters of the time, the ONI 

reflected non-EN conditions. Clearly, when EN conditions prevail, there is a strong tendency for 

NTC, NH, and NMH to be reduced in number, as compared to when non-EN conditions prevail. It 

follows, then, that when EN conditions prevail, one probably should adjust slightly downward the 

expected frequency of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes during a season, while 

when non-EN conditions prevail (especially, when LN conditions prevail) one probably should 

slightly augment the expected frequency of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes during a season (independent of the activity mode).

Looking ahead to the 2009 North Atlantic basin hurricane season, then, clearly it is part 

of a long-going, high-activity phase (the current high-activity mode having already persisted for 

14 yr, yet not expected to end for at least another decade or so) and dependent upon whether EN 

or non-EN conditions prevail during 2009, one should anticipate either slightly lower or higher, 

respectively, frequencies of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes as compared to highactivity mode averages. Presently, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center14 finds that neutral or LN 

conditions are expected at least for early 2009. If these non-EN conditions persist through the later 

half of the year, then one probability should expect continued increased activity during the 2009 

hurricane season. Based on the current (1995–2008) high-activity mode average (14.9) and standard 

deviation (4.7), one projects NTC=14.9±8.3 (the 90% prediction interval) for 2009, probably on the 

higher side if non-EN conditions prevail during the later half of the year or on the lower side if EN 

conditions should happen to develop. Statistically speaking, there is only about a 5% chance that 
10

Table 5. Event listing of EN and LN, based on ONI using ERSST.v3.

Start End

Duration

(mo)

Max ONI

(oC)

Event

Type Strength

Sums

NTC NH NMH

B01/1950 03/1951 >15 –1.7 LN S 13 11 8

08/1951 12/1951 5 0.7 EN W 9 7 4

04/1954 01/1957 34 –2.0 LN S 31 21 10

04/1957 06/1958 15 1.7 EN S 9 3 2

07/1963 01/1964 7 1.0 EN M 9 7 2

04/1964 02/1965 11 –1.1 LN M 12 6 6

06/1965 04/1966 11 1.6 EN S 6 4 1

12/1967 04/1968 5 –0.8 LN W 0 0 0

11/1968 06/1969 8 1.0 EN M 0 0 0

09/1969 01/1970 5 0.7 EN W 12 8 2

07/1970 01/1972 19 –1.4 LN M 22 10 3

05/1972 03/1973 11 2.1 EN S 7 3 0

05/1973 07/1974 15 –2.0 LN S 10 4 1

09/1974 05/1976 21 –1.7 LN M 15 8 3

09/1976 02/1977 6 0.8 EN W 3 2 0

09/1977 02/1978 6 0.8 EN W 6 4 0

05/1982 06/1983 14 2.3 EN S 6 2 1

10/1984 09/1985 12 –1.1 LN M 11 8 2

09/1986 02/1988 18 1.7 EN S 10 5 1

05/1988 05/1989 13 –2.0 LN S 12 6 3

05/1991 07/1992 15 1.8 EN M 9 4 2

07/1994 03/1995 9 1.3 EN M 7 3 0

09/1995 03/1996 7 –0.8 LN W 7 5 3

05/1997 04/1998 12 2.5 EN S 8 3 1

07/1998 06/2000 24 –1.7 LN S 26 18 8

10/2000 02/2001 5 ¬0.7 LN W 4 1 0

05/2002 03/2003 11 1.5 EN S 12 4 2

07/2004 02/2005 8 0.9 EN W 15 9 6

08/2006 01/2007 6 1.2 EN M 7 5 2

08/2007 05/2008 10 –1.5 LN S 13 6 2

Notes:

B =Before

M =Moderate

S =Strong

W=Weak

more than 23 or fewer than 7 tropical cyclones should be expected in the North Atlantic basin in 

2009. Similarly, NH=8±5.3 and NMH=3.9±3.2 for 2009 (both 90% prediction intervals), based 

on the statistics of the current 1995–2008 high-activity mode interval. The current status of EN/LN 

conditions can be found at <http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/>.15
11

Table 6. Statistical summary of EN and LN events.

Event NE

TD

(mo) (%) <Dur>

<Max

ONI>

NTC NH NMH

Sum (%) ER MR Sum (%) ER MR Sum (%) ER MR 

 EN 17 167 (23.6) 9.8 1.4 135 (21.1) 7.9 0.81 73 (19.8) 4.3 0.44 26 (16.3) 1.5 0.16

 LN 13 191 (27.0) 14.7 –1.4 176 (27.5) 13.5 0.92 104 (28.2) 8.0 0.54 49 (30.8) 3.8 0.26

Notes:

 (%)=Percent of total

 ER =Event rate—number of NTC, NH, or NMH per number of events

 MR=Monthly rate—number of NTC, NH, or NMH per total duration

 NE =Number of events

 TD =Total duration

The last EN was a moderate event that began in August 2006 and ended in January 2007. 

It was followed by an apparent strong LN that began in August 2007 and ended in May 2008. As 

noted above, non-EN conditions are now present and are expected to continue through at least early 

2009. On average, the start of a new EN follows the end of an old EN by ≈32.2 mo (sd=18.2 mo, 

range=3–64 mo, median=29.5 mo), based on the ONI listing of EN events (table 5). Counting 

January 2009, it has already been 24 mo since the end of the last EN, so it is not inconceivable that 

another EN could suddenly form during the 2009 Atlantic basin hurricane season, thus, making 

a precise prediction for the 2009 hurricane season somewhat difficult at this time.

3.4 First-Differences in 10-Year Moving Average Frequencies

Previously, it was shown that the distribution of the year-to-year change; i.e., the first difference, in the 10-yma values of the frequencies can be used to forecast the expected frequencies for the 

following hurricane season.9 Recall that the 10-yma is determined in the following way:

X10-yma(0)=[X(–5)+X(5)+2∑X(i)]/20 , (2)

where X is NTC, NH, or NMH; X(–5) and X(5) are values of X, respectively, 5 yr prior to and 5 yr 

after the year of interest (X(0)); and ∑X(i) is the sum of X(i) for the years i= –4, –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 

and 4 yr bounding the year of interest. In equation (2), there are two unknowns: X10-yma(0) and X(5). 

However, one can estimate the value of X10-yma(0) from the distribution of the year-to-year change 

in X10-yma, as follows:

X10-yma(0)=X10-yma(–1)±d , (3) 

where d is the estimate of the first difference in X10-yma, which usually equals ±0.1 or ±0.2. Hence, 

one can rewrite equation (2) solving for X(5) as follows:

X(5)=20[X10-yma(–1)±d]–X(–5)–2∑X(i) . (4) 

Figure 2 displays the distributions of the first differences; i.e., d=Δ10-yma of X: (a) NTC, 

(b) NH, and (c) NMH for 1950–2002. Noticeable is that the first differences vary little from year to 

year, usually being within ±0.2 units of zero. For NTC, d equals ±0.1 about 49% of the time and 
12

–1.0 –0.5 0 0.5 1.0

10

15

5

∆ 10-yma (d)

(c)Frequency

NMH (1950–2002)

±0.1: 34/53 (64%)

±0.2: 44/53 (83%)

1995–2002: 

 <∆10-yma> = 0.15

sd = 0.19

range = –0.1 to 0.4

–1.0 –0.5 0 0.5 1.0

10

15

5

0

0

0

(b)Frequency

NH (1950–2002)

±0.1: 32/53 (60%)

±0.2: 39/53 (74%)

1995–2002: 

 <∆10-yma> = 0.20

sd = 0.19

range = 0 to 0.5

–1.0 –0.5 0 0.5 1.0

10

15

5

(a)Frequency

NTC (1950–2002)

±0.1: 26/53 (49%)

±0.2: 36/53 (68%)

1995–2002: 

 <∆10-yma> = 0.45

sd = 0.20

range = 0.2 to 0.8

Figure 2. Distribution of first differences of 10-yma of North Atlantic basin (1950–2002)

(a) tropical cyclones, (b) hurricanes, and (c) major hurricanes.
13

±0.2 about 68% of the time. For NH, the percentages are higher, and for NMH, they are higher still. 

Also shown in each panel are the average d, sd, and range determined for the current high-activity 

interval (1995–2002).

For NTC, from equation (4), X(5) is NTC for 2009, X(–5) is NTC for 1999 (=12), ∑X(i) 

is the sum of NTC between 2000 and 2008 (=141), and X10-yma(–1) is the 10-yma of NTC for 2003 

(=15.3). Hence, for 2009, NTC can be estimated to be about 12±20d. If d equals zero, then NTC 

is 12 for 2009; if d equals ±0.1 (true about half the time), then NTC for 2009 will be about 10–14, 

and so forth. If, instead, one uses the average d for the current high-activity interval (<d>=0.45), 

then NTC for 2009 could be as high as 21. Similarly, for 2009, NH and NMH can be estimated to 

be about 10±20d and 3±20d, respectively, which translates to about 8–12 hurricanes and 1–5 major 

hurricanes, using d=±0.1 (true more than half the time), or NH and NMH for 2009 could be as high 

as 14 and 6, respectively, using the average d for the current high-activity interval (d=0.20 and 0.15, 

respectively).

3.5 The Role of Temperature and Decadal-Length Oscillation

Figure 3 shows the yearly and 10-yma variations in surface air temperature as measured by 

the Armagh Observatory located at Armagh, Northern Ireland (fig. 3(a) (AT)) and the yearly and 

10-yma variations in ONI value (fig. 3(b)), both in degrees Celsius, for the interval 1950–2007. (The 

2008 values are not yet available for AT and ONI at the time of writing.) The surface air temperature 

record as recorded at the Armagh Observatory has been found to serve as a viable proxy for representing global warming.8,16–20 For the interval 1950–2007, AT averages ≈9.46 oC. On the basis of 

the behavior of the 10-yma values of AT, an interval of cooler than average temperatures is inferred 

between about 1957 and 1990, with the lowest 10-yma value occurring about 1982 (9.05 oC; the lowest 

yearly value measures 8.35 oC in 1979). Since 1990, the 10-yma values of AT have been warmer than the 

mean, measuring 10.13 oC in 2002. In terms of yearly temperatures, the temperature in 2007 averages 

1.13 oC warmer than the mean for 1950–2007. Armagh temperatures can be found at <http://climate.

arm.ac.uk/scan.html> and <http://climate.arm.ac.uk/calibrated/airtemp/index.html>.21,22

The 10-yma values of ONI are negative prior to 1961 and again about 1969–1978. Since 

1978, the 10-yma values have been positive, although they appear likely to become negative again 

very soon. During the first high-activity interval (1950–1965), four EN events, spanning a combined 

38 mo, and three LN events, spanning a combined 60 mo, occurred, based on the ERSST.v3 listing. During the low-activity interval (1966–1994), nine EN events, spanning a combined 92 mo, 

and six LN events, spanning a combined 85 mo, occurred. During the current high-activity interval 

(1995–2008), four EN events, spanning a combined 37 mo, and four LN events, spanning a combined 

46 mo, have occurred to date. Obviously, EN and LN events occur irrespective of whether the activity mode is one of high activity or low activity, although more LN months have occurred during the 

combined high-activity intervals than the low-activity interval and more EN months have occurred 

in the low-activity interval than the combined high-activity intervals. The overall behavior of the 

10-yma of ONI seems to be the result of a quasi-periodic, decadal-length oscillation.

Table 7(a) gives the results of linear regression analyses correlating 10-yma values of NTC, 

NH, and NMH against 10-yma values of AT for the interval 1950–2002. Given are the inferred 
14

1950

m (9.46)

Long-term

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

 m = 9.46

sd = 0.52

2010

–1.5

–1.0

–0.5

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Year

ONI

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0

10.5

1950–2007 (58 yr) 11.0

AT

 m = 10.09

sd = 0.36

1995–2007:

(b)

(a)

Yearly Variation

10-yma

Figure 3. Surface air temperature yearly values from the (a) Armagh Observatory 

and sea-surface temperature anomaly yearly values using (b) ONI.

regression equation, the coefficient of correlation (r), the coefficient of determination (r2) (which 

is a measure of the amount of variance explained by the inferred regression), the standard error 

of estimate (se), the confidence level (cl) (where those of cl ≥ 95% are considered to be statistically 

important), and the mean (m) and sd of the 10-yma values of the fitted parameters; i.e., NTC, NH, 

and NMH. All inferred correlations are considered statistically important. In particular, the inferred 

regressions between NTC, NH, and NMH against AT are inferred to be highly statistically significant (cl ≥ 99%).
15

Table 7. Linear and bi-variate correlations based on 10-yma values: (a) Linear 

regression fits against AT, (b) linear regression fits against ONI, 

and (c) bi-variate fits against AT and ONI.

(a) Correlation r r×r se cl m sd

NTC –32.791 + 4.577AT 0.864 0.746 0.765 >99.9 10.242 1.501

NH –15.162 + 2.245AT 0.829 0.687 0.434 >99.9 5.942 0.767

NMH –14.314 + 1.775AT 0.665 0.442 0.570 >99.9 2.375 0.756

(b) Correlation r r×r se cl m sd

NTC 10.215 + 2.010ONI 0.204 0.042 1.485 <90 10.242 1.501

NH 5.934 + 0.568ONI 0.113 0.013 0.771 <90 5.942 0.767

NMH 2.379 – 0.301ONI –0.061 0.004 0.762 <90 2.375 0.756

(c) Correlation r r×r se

NTC –35.573 + 4.875AT – 1.449ONI 0.874 0.764 0.745

NH –17.465 + 2.491AT – 1.200ONI 0.858 0.736 0.403

NMH –17.822 + 2.151AT – 1.827ONI 0.747 0.559 0.513

Table 7(b) gives the results of linear regression analyses correlating 10-yma values of the same 

parameters against 10-yma values of ONI for the interval 1955–2002. None of the inferred regressions are considered statistically important (cl<90%).

Table 7(c) gives the results of bi-variate regression analyses, based on both AT and ONI. The 

bi-variate analyses yield inferred regressions having slightly higher coefficients of correlation and are 

interesting in that they show that, given the occurrence of an EN event (warmer or positive-valued 

ONI), the expected frequencies are slightly reduced, while they are slightly enhanced given the occurrence of a LN event (cooler or negative-valued ONI). While true, it is obvious that the main determining factor is AT and not ONI.

Table 8(a)–(c) is likened to table 7(a)–(c), but now consider only the recent interval 1995–

2002; i.e., the current high-activity interval. For table 8(a), all inferred regressions against AT are 

improved, with all being highly statistically significant. While table 8(b) shows that improvement 

occurs in inferred regressions against ONI, the inferred regressions remain statistically unimportant. 

Table 8(c) shows that all inferred bi-variate correlations are improved, although, obviously, as before, 

temperature undoubtedly is the main driver in the inferred regressions. It is apparent that if one has 

a good estimate for the 10-yma value, in particular, of AT for 2004, then one might be able to better predict the expected frequencies of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic basin during the 2009 

hurricane season.

As an example, 10-yma values of AT and ONI measured 10.13 and 0.07 oC, respectively, in 2002. 

Presuming that the 10-yma of AT for 2003 will be the same that occurred in 2002, one determines (from 

table 8(a)) the 10-yma of NTC for 2003 to be ≈15.3, which happens to agree exactly with its 

actual computed value. For NH, one determines the 10-yma of NH for 2003 to be ≈8.2, slightly 

higher than its actual computed value (=8.0), and for NMH one determines the 10-yma of NMH 

for 2003 to be ≈4.0, again, slightly higher than its actual computed value (=3.8). Using the bivariate fits (table 8(c)) and presuming 10-yma values of AT and ONI being the same in 2003 
16

Table 8. Linear and bi-variate correlations based on the 1995–2002 10-yma values:

(a) Linear regression fits against AT, (b) linear regression fits against ONI, 

and (c) bi-variate fits against AT and ONI.

(a) Correlation r r×r se cl m sd

NTC –85.344 + 9.934AT 0.985 0.970 0.210 >99.9 13.113 1.482

NH –34.314 + 4.201AT 0.963 0.928 0.230 >99.9 7.325 0.641

NMH –27.401 + 3.098AT 0.929 0.863 0.143 >99.9 3.300 0.490

(b) Correlation r r×r se cl m sd

NTC 14.666 – 15.157ONI –0.535 0.286 1.353 <90 13.113 1.482 

NH 8.018 – 6.762ONI –0.552 0.305 0.578 <90 7.325 0.641

NMH 3.830 –5.170ONI –0.552 0.305 0.441 <90 3.300 0.490

(c) Correlation r r×r se

NTC –80.860 + 9.508AT – 2.534ONI 0.988 0.976 0.270

NH –31.615 + 3.945AT – 1.526ONI 0.969 0.940 0.186

NMH –24.991 + 2.869AT – 1.362ONI 0.938 0.879 0.201

as had occurred in 2002, one determines the 10-yma of NTC for 2003 to be ≈15.3, the 10-yma of 

NH for 2003 to be ≈8.2, and the 10-yma of NMH for 2003 to be ≈4.0, little different from using AT 

alone. Instead, using the average change in year-to-year 10-yma values for AT and ONI during the 

current high-activity interval; i.e., their first differences, equal to 0.06 and –0.02 oC, thereby, inferring 10-yma values of AT and ONI for 2003 to be 10.19 and 0.05 oC, respectively, one determines 

the 10-yma values for NTC, NH, and NMH for 2003 to be about 15.9, 8.5, and 4.2, respectively. The 

actual values for 2003 for the 10-yma of AT and ONI are not yet known, but should be lower than 

10.16 oC and –0.04 oC, respectively, based on nearly complete monthly values for 2008 (needed are 

the monthly values for December for AT and November and December for ONI). Using these alternate values, one determines the 10-yma values for NTC, NH, and NMH for 2003 to be about 15.8, 

8.5, and 4.2, considered to be upper limits. Presuming a December value of 5 oC, based on the average December monthly means for 1950–2007, reduces the yearly average for 2008 to ≈9.87 oC, which 

suggests that the 10-yma of AT for 2003 should be ≈10.14 oC and that 10-yma values for NTC, NH, 

and NMH for 2003 might be about 15.7, 8.4, and 4.2, respectively, based on the preferred bi-variate 

fits.

Figure 4 shows the year-to-year change in the 10-yma values of AT and ONI. Changes of 

±0.05 oC tend to occur about two-thirds or more of the time, with the average change in the 10-yma 

values being about 0.06 oC for AT, spanning 0.01 to 0.08 oC, and about –0.02 oC, spanning –0.10 

to 0.04 oC, for ONI in the current high-activity interval. Assuming that the change in year-to-year 

10-yma values of AT and ONI will be about ±0.05 oC and that the 10-yma values for 2003 will 

equal 10.14 and –0.04 oC, respectively, for AT and ONI, one estimates the 10-yma values of AT and 

ONI for 2004 to be about 10.14±0.05 oC and –0.04±0.05 oC, suggesting the 10-yma value of NTC 

for 2004 to be about 15.7±0.4. This value, however, is higher than that expected from the usual 

year-to-year 10-yma behavior of NTC (=15.3±0.1 or 15.3±0.2) and, in fact, suggests an expected 

NTC for 2009 of about 18±8, higher than that given the usual ±0.1 or ±0.2 change in year-to-year 
17

–0.15 –0.10 –0.05 0 0.05 0.10 0.15

10

5

∆ 10-yma

–0.15 –0.10 –0.05 0 0.05 0.10 0.15

(b)

ONI (1955–2001) ±0.05: 33/47 (70%)

1995–2001: 

 <∆10-yma> = –0.02

sd = 0.05

range = –0.10 to 0.04

10

5

0

0

(a)Number Number

AT (1950–2001) ±0.05: 34/52 (65%)

1995–2001: 

 <∆10-yma> = 0.06

sd = 0.03

range = 0.01 to 0.08

5-406217(F6)

Figure 4. Temperature distribution first differences of 10-yma

from the (a) Armagh Observatory and (b) ONI.

10-yma values of NTC, which suggests only 12±2 or 12±4, respectively, for NTC in 2009. Presuming that the inferred regressions are indeed valid, this may be an indication either that the expected 

10-yma value of AT will not be as high as 10.14±0.05 oC or that the 2009 season might be considerably more active than one ordinarily might expect; i.e., it could be a statistical outlier with respect 

to using the usual first-difference values in estimating the frequencies for the upcoming hurricane 

season.

For NH and NMH in 2009, their expected frequencies are also of record size, as the following 

shows, if indeed the 10-yma of AT for 2004 is 10.14±0.05 oC and the year 2009 is not a statistical 

outlier with respect to the inferred bi-variate regressions for the current high-activity interval. For 

NH, one infers a 10-yma of about 8.4±0.2 for 2004, which suggests an expected NH for 2009 to be 

about 18±4. For NMH, one infers a 10-yma of about 4.2±0.1 for 2004, which suggests an expected 

NMH for 2009 to be about 11±2. For NH and NMH, these yearly numbers seem too high, since 

frequencies above 15 and 8 have never been experienced during the interval 1950–2008, differing 

markedly from their usual behaviors.
18

Figure 5 compares predicted and observed 10-yma values of the various parameters for the 

current high-activity interval, where the predicted values are based on the bi-variate fits given in 

table 8(c). The extrapolated predicted values for 2004 use 10-yma values for AT and ONI of 

10.14±0.0.5 oC and –0.04±0.0.5 oC, respectively.

1995 2000 2005

1995 2000 2005

1995 2000 2005

(c)

2

4

6

6

8

10

NMH NH NTC

(b)

10

12

14

16

(a)

Year

5-406217(F7)

Predicted Value

Observed Value

Figure 5. Comparison of predicted and observed 10-yma for (a) NTC, (b) NH, and (c) NMH.
19

4. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY

Table 9 summarizes the yearly and 10-yma values for NTC, NH, NMH, AT, and ONI for 

the interval 1950–2008 used in the previous analyses. Also included are the number of EN and LN 

months during the years, based on ONI values using ERSST.v3, and the names and month of first 

occurrence (in parentheses) of those North Atlantic basin hurricanes having PWS equal to 140 kt 

or higher. The two storms having the highest PWS are Camille (1969) and Allen (1980), both having 

peak wind speeds equal to 165 kt and both being named in the month of August. The storm of lowest pressure is Wilma, being named in October 2005 and having LP equal to 882 mb.

Table 9. Summary of yearly and 10-yma values for NTC, NH, NMH, AT, and ONI (1950–2008).

Year

Yearly Values 10-yma Values

NTC NH NMH AT ONI NTC NH NMH AT ONI NLNM NNM NENM Comment

1950 13 11 8 9.17 –1.14 10.4 6.7 3.7 9.43 – 12 0 0 Dog (08)

1951 10 8 5 8.95 0.02 10.5 7.0 3.9 9.39 – 3 4 5 Easy (09)

1952 7 6 3 8.81 –0.06 10.6 6.9 3.9 9.43 – 0 12 0

1953 14 6 4 9.87 0.34 10.6 6.9 4.0 9.45 – 0 12 0

1954 11 8 2 9.15 –0.68 10.5 6.9 4.0 9.44 – 9 3 0

1955 12 9 6 9.49 –1.23 10.1 6.6 3.6 9.44 –0.18 12 0 0 Janet (09)

1956 8 4 2 9.37 –0.73 9.9 6.2 3.4 9.49 –0.14 12 0 0

1957 8 3 2 9.83 0.68 9.8 6.1 3.4 9.52 –0.17 12 9

1958 10 7 5 9.45 0.60 9.5 6.0 3.2 9.45 –0.19 0 6 6 Cleo (08)

1959 11 7 2 10.20 –0.06 9.3 5.9 3.3 9.40 –0.18 0 12 0

1960 7 4 2 9.44 –0.15 9.0 5.6 3.3 9.38 –0.07 0 12 0 Donna (08); Ethel (09)

1961 11 8 7 9.58 –0.22 8.9 5.5 3.1 9.35 0.07 0 12 0 Carla (09); Hattie (10)

1962 5 3 1 8.76 –0.46 9.0 5.8 3.1 9.33 0.07 0 12 0

1963 9 7 2 8.57 0.42 8.9 5.9 2.8 9.30 –0.01 0 6 6

1964 12 6 6 9.49 –0.53 9.2 6.0 2.7 9.23 –0.01 9 2 1

1965 6 4 1 8.82 0.67 9.7 6.3 2.8 9.16 0.02 2 3 7

1966 11 7 3 9.38 0.28 9.9 6.2 2.5 9.16 –0.02 0 8 4

1967 8 6 1 9.40 –0.35 10.1 6.1 2.2 9.17 0.01 1 11 0 Beulah (09)

1968 8 5 0 9.32 –0.04 10.2 6.0 2.1 9.20 0.02 4 6 2

1969 18 12 5 8.93 0.68 10.1 5.7 1.8 9.21 –0.05 0 2 10 Camille (08)

1970 10 5 2 9.28 –0.32 10.2 5.7 1.7 9.23 –0.16 6 5 1

1971 13 6 1 9.72 –0.97 10.3 5.8 1.8 9.27 –0.27 12 0 0 Edith (09)

1972 7 3 0 8.74 0.90 10.1 5.7 1.7 9.24 –0.25 1 3 8

1973 8 4 1 9.33 –0.58 10.2 5.6 1.8 9.21 –0.21 8 1 3

1974 11 4 2 8.94 –0.91 10.0 5.3 1.8 9.18 –0.24 12 0 0

1975 9 6 3 9.69 –1.15 9.6 5.2 1.6 9.14 –0.23 12 0 0
20

Year

Yearly Values 10-yma Values

NTC NH NMH AT ONI NTC NH NMH AT ONI NLNM NNM NENM Comment

1976 10 6 2 9.33 –0.13 9.6 5.5 1.7 9.10 –0.17 5 3 4

1977 6 5 1 8.92 0.48 9.5 5.5 1.9 9.11 –0.13 0 6 6

1978 12 5 2 9.21 –0.12 9.2 5.4 1.9 9.16 –0.07 0 10 2

1979 9 6 2 8.35 0.21 9.1 5.4 1.9 9.20 0.01 0 12 0 David (08)

1980 11 9 2 9.11 0.18 9.3 5.5 1.8 9.17 0.06 0 12 0 Allen (08)

1981 12 7 3 9.09 –0.23 9.2 5.4 1.7 9.08 0.10 0 12 0

1982 6 2 1 9.43 0.98 9.1 5.2 1.6 9.05 0.16 0 4 8

1983 4 3 1 9.77 0.53 9.1 5.2 1.7 9.08 0.16 0 6 6

1984 13 5 1 9.29 –0.43 9.2 5.3 1.7 9.19 0.08 3 9 0

1985 11 7 3 8.70 –0.65 9.5 5.3 1.7 9.32 0.04 9 3 0

1986 6 4 0 8.57 0.23 9.4 5.1 1.6 9.37 0.09 0 8 4

1987 7 3 1 9.07 1.30 9.3 5.0 1.5 9.39 0.13 0 0 12

1988 12 6 3 9.65 –0.89 9.5 5.2 1.5 9.37 0.12 8 2 2 Gilbert (09)

1989 11 7 2 10.07 –0.70 9.4 5.1 1.5 9.34 0.16 5 7 0 Hugo (09)

1990 14 8 1 9.93 0.26 9.5 5.2 1.5 9.42 0.25 0 12 0

1991 8 4 2 9.42 0.78 10.3 5.7 1.9 9.53 0.25 0 4 8

1992 7 4 1 9.45 0.78 10.7 5.9 2.2 9.62 0.22 0 5 7 Andrew (08)

1993 8 4 1 9.27 0.44 10.8 6.1 2.2 9.71 0.26 0 12 0

1994 7 3 0 9.32 0.58 11.0 6.4 2.4 9.74 0.29 0 6 6

1995 19 11 5 10.22 0.03 11.1 6.4 2.6 9.74 0.22 4 5 3

1996 13 9 6 9.22 –0.33 11.5 6.7 2.8 9.75 0.12 3 9 0

1997 8 3 1 10.32 1.24 12.1 6.9 3.0 9.79 0.07 0 4 8

1998 14 10 3 10.09 0.02 12.7 7.1 3.1 9.87 0.07 6 2 4 Mitch (10)

1999 12 8 5 10.18 –1.10 13.5 7.5 3.5 9.95 0.07 12 0 0

2000 15 8 3 9.93 –0.77 14.4 8.0 3.9 10.00 0.08 9 3 0

2001 15 9 4 9.57 –0.18 14.7 8.0 3.8 10.06 0.12 2 10 0

2002 12 4 2 10.20 0.76 14.9 8.0 3.7 10.13 0.07 0 4 8

2003 16 7 3 10.02 0.44 15.3 8.0 3.8 0 9 3 Isabel (09)

2004 15 9 6 10.21 0.54 0 6 6 Ivan (09)

2005 28 15 7 10.24 0.23 0 10 2 Emily (07); Katrina (08); Rita (09); 

Wilma (10)

2006 10 5 2 10.43 0.29 0 7 5

2007 15 6 2 10.59 –0.34 5 6 1 Dean (08); Felix (09)

2008 16 8 5 5 7 0

Table 10 gives the monthly record of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI for the interval January 

1950 through December 2008. Also included are the start and end months and strength of EN and 

LN events, based on ONI using ERSST.v3, and the names of storms having PWS equal to 140 kt or 

higher. January 1978 marks the lone month/year having the earliest occurring storm, an unnamed 

Table 9. Summary of yearly and 10-yma values for NTC, NH, NMH, AT, 

and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
21

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008).

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1950 01 5.89 0 0 0 –1.7 LN(S) peak?

02 4.87 0 0 0 –1.5 LN(S)

03 7.94 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

04 7.36 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

05 11.39 0 0 0 –1.3 LN(M)

06 19.52 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

07 15.04 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

08 14.50 4 4 4 –0.8 LN(W); Dog (160)

09 11.98 3 3 2 –0.8 LN(W)

10 9.52 6 4 2 –0.8 LN(W)

11 4.85 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

12 1.70 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

1951 01 4.09 0 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

02 3.21 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

03 4.51 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) end

04 6.82 0 0 0 –0.4

05 9.33 1 1 1 –0.2

06 13.26 0 0 0 0.1

07 15.23 0 0 0 0.3

08 14.16 3 2 2 0.5 EN(W) start

09 13.37 3 2 2 0.6 EN(W); Easy (140)

10 10.48 3 3 0 0.7 EN(W) peak

11 7.58 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) peak

12 5.43 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W) end

1952 01 2.44 0 0 0 0.3

02 4.26 1 0 0 0.2

03 6.89 0 0 0 0.1

04 9.26 0 0 0 0.1

05 12.10 0 0 0 0.0

06 13.03 0 0 0 –0.2

07 15.64 0 0 0 –0.3

08 14.73 2 2 1 –0.3

09 10.25 2 2 1 –0.1

10 9.06 2 2 1 –0.2

11 4.60 0 0 0 –0.2

12 3.56 0 0 0 –0.1

1953 01 4.86 0 0 0 0.1

02 5.84 0 0 0 0.3

03 5.73 0 0 0 0.4

04 6.69 0 0 0 0.4

05 12.73 1 0 0 0.5

06 13.65 0 0 0 0.4

07 14.68 0 0 0 0.4

08 14.91 3 2 1 0.4
22

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1953 09 13.98 4 3 3 0.4

10 10.15 4 1 0 0.3

11 8.08 1 0 0 0.3

12 7.17 1 0 0 0.2

1954 01 4.49 0 0 0 0.3

02 4.28 0 0 0 0.2

03 6.24 0 0 0 –0.2

04 7.99 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W) start

05 10.81 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

06 12.71 1 1 0 –0.8 LN(W)

07 13.63 1 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

08 13.64 2 2 0 –1.1 LN(M)

09 11.71 4 3 1 –1.2 LN(M) peak 1

10 10.95 1 1 1 –1.1 LN(M)

11 6.44 1 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

12 6.99 1 1 0 –1.0 LN(M)

1955 01 3.23 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

02 1.97 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

03 4.42 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

04 9.80 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

05 9.85 0 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

06 12.98 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

07 16.81 1 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

08 17.32 4 3 2 –1.0 LN(M)

09 14.13 5 5 3 –1.4 LN(M); Janet (150)

10 9.23 2 1 1 –1.8 LN(S)

11 8.08 0 0 0 –2.0 LN(S) peak 2

12 6.09 0 0 0 –1.7 LN(S)

1956 01 3.97 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

02 2.63 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

03 7.33 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

04 8.05 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

05 11.79 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W)

06 13.03 1 0 0 –0.5 LN(W)

07 15.13 1 1 0 –0.6 LN(W)

08 13.21 1 1 1 –0.8 LN(W)

09 13.34 4 1 0 –0.8 LN(W)

10 9.86 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

11 7.46 1 1 1 –0.8 LN(W)

12 6.73 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

1957 01 5.35 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

02 5.34 0 0 0 –0.1

03 9.51 0 0 0 0.3

04 8.81 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W) start

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
23

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1957 05 10.65 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W)

06 14.22 2 1 1 0.9 EN(W)

07 15.12 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

08 14.65 1 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

09 11.90 4 2 1 0.9 EN(W)

10 10.18 1 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 6.72 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

12 5.58 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S)

1958 01 4.36 0 0 0 1.7 EN(S) peak

02 5.31 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S)

03 4.28 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

04 8.04 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W)

05 10.09 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W)

06 13.26 1 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

07 15.36 0 0 0 0.4

08 14.83 4 3 3 0.2 Cleo (140)

09 14.63 4 3 2 0.0

10 10.74 1 1 0 0.0

11 7.97 0 0 0 0.2

12 4.54 0 0 0 0.4

1959 01 2.32 0 0 0 0.4

02 5.76 0 0 0 0.5

03 7.86 0 0 0 0.4

04 8.84 0 0 0 0.2

05 12.25 1 0 0 0.1

06 14.56 2 1 0 –0.2

07 16.10 2 2 0 –0.4

08 16.18 1 0 0 –0.5

09 14.00 3 3 2 –0.4

10 12.32 2 1 0 –0.3

11 6.79 0 0 0 –0.2

12 5.48 0 0 0 –0.3

1960 01 4.32 0 0 0 –0.3

02 3.81 0 0 0 –0.3

03 6.79 0 0 0 –0.3

04 9.53 0 0 0 –0.1

05 12.84 0 0 0 –0.1

06 15.05 1 0 0 –0.1

07 14.59 2 1 0 0.0

08 14.26 2 2 1 0.0 Donna (140)

09 12.55 2 1 1 0.0 Ethel (140)

10 9.86 0 0 0 –0.2

11 6.79 0 0 0 –0.2

12 2.89 0 0 0 –0.2
24

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1961 01 3.86 0 0 0 –0.1

02 7.49 0 0 0 –0.2

03 9.19 0 0 0 –0.2

04 9.22 0 0 0 –0.1

05 10.77 0 0 0 0.1

06 13.50 0 0 0 0.2

07 13.97 1 1 1 0.1

08 14.36 0 0 0 –0.3

09 13.50 6 5 5 –0.6 Carla (150)

10 10.05 2 1 1 –0.6 Hattie (140)

11 6.34 2 1 0 –0.5

12 2.72 0 0 0 –0.4

1962 01 4.43 0 0 0 –0.5

02 5.30 0 0 0 –0.5

03 3.67 0 0 0 –0.4

04 7.99 0 0 0 –0.5

05 10.25 0 0 0 –0.4

06 12.95 0 0 0 –0.3

07 13.92 0 0 0 –0.2

08 13.84 2 1 0 –0.3

09 11.78 1 0 0 –0.4

10 10.55 2 2 1 –0.6

11 6.22 0 0 0 –0.7

12 4.28 0 0 0 –0.7

1963 01 –0.17 0 0 0 –0.6

02 1.27 0 0 0 –0.3

03 6.83 0 0 0 0.0

04 8.36 0 0 0 0.1

05 9.94 0 0 0 0.1

06 13.98 0 0 0 0.3

07 14.31 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) start

08 13.99 2 2 1 0.9 EN(W)

09 12.50 5 4 1 0.9 EN(W)

10 11.02 2 1 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 7.13 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M) peak

12 3.65 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M) peak

1964 01 5.45 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W) end

02 5.18 0 0 0 0.4

03 5.40 0 0 0 0.0

04 8.99 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) start

05 12.38 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

06 13.35 1 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

07 15.19 1 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

08 14.62 3 1 1 –0.8 LN(W)

09 13.49 5 4 4 –1.0 LN(M)

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
25

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1964 10 9.58 1 1 1 –1.1 LN(M) peak

11 6.93 1 0 0 –1.1 LN(M) peak

12 3.85 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

1965 01 3.10 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

02 3.77 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

03 5.90 0 0 0 –0.2

04 8.41 0 0 0 0.0

05 11.44 0 0 0 0.3

06 14.09 1 0 0 0.7 EN(W) start

07 13.39 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M)

08 14.03 2 2 1 1.3 EN(M)

09 11.79 2 1 0 1.5 EN(S)

10 10.87 1 1 0 1.6 EN(S) peak

11 4.54 0 0 0 1.6 EN(S) peak

12 4.52 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S)

1966 01 4.04 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

02 5.65 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

03 7.80 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

04 6.99 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

05 11.14 0 0 0 0.3

06 15.09 1 1 1 0.2

07 14.62 4 3 0 0.2

08 13.88 1 1 1 0.0

09 13.93 4 1 1 –0.2

10 9.16 0 0 0 –0.2

11 4.93 1 1 0 –0.3

12 5.33 0 0 0 –0.3

1967 01 5.04 0 0 0 –0.4

02 5.65 0 0 0 –0.5

03 6.76 0 0 0 –0.6

04 8.86 0 0 0 –0.5

05 9.60 0 0 0 –0.2

06 13.77 0 0 0 0.0

07 15.39 0 0 0 0.0

08 14.60 1 1 0 –0.2

09 13.08 4 3 1 –0.4 Beulah (140)

10 9.50 3 2 0 –0.5

11 5.89 0 0 0 –0.4

12 4.64 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) start

1968 01 5.27 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

02 2.31 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W) peak

03 6.41 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W) peak

04 7.90 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) end

05 9.46 0 0 0 –0.4

06 14.35 3 2 0 0.0

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
26

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1968 07 14.58 0 0 0 0.3

08 15.26 1 1 0 0.3

09 13.04 3 1 0 0.3

10 12.22 1 1 0 0.4

11 6.83 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) start

12 4.21 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

1969 01 4.71 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M) peak

02 1.19 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M) peak

03 3.89 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

04 7.54 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

05 10.73 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W)

06 13.31 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

07 15.88 1 0 0 0.4

08 15.48 5 4 3 0.4 Camille (165)

09 13.30 6 4 2 0.6 EN(W) start

10 12.66 5 3 0 0.7 EN(W) peak

11 4.21 1 1 0 0.7 EN(W) peak

12 4.26 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W)

1970 01 3.75 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

02 2.82 0 0 0 0.3

03 4.87 0 0 0 0.2

04 7.04 0 0 0 0.1

05 12.66 1 1 0 0.0

06 15.82 0 0 0 –0.3

07 14.16 1 0 0 –0.6 LN(W) start

08 15.38 3 1 1 –0.7 LN(W)

09 13.29 3 1 1 –0.7 LN(W)

10 10.43 2 2 0 –0.7 LN(W)

11 6.71 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

12 4.52 0 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

1971 01 4.97 0 0 0 –1.3 LN(M)

02 5.58 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M) peak

03 5.89 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

04 8.01 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

05 11.00 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

06 12.06 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

07 15.86 1 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

08 14.58 4 2 0 –0.8 LN(W)

09 13.93 6 4 1 –0.8 LN(W); Edith (140)

10 11.51 1 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

11 6.62 1 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

12 6.64 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

1972 01 3.62 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) end

02 4.35 0 0 0 –0.3

03 5.83 0 0 0 0.0

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
27

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1972 04 8.41 0 0 0 0.3

05 10.02 1 0 0 0.6 EN(W) start

06 11.18 1 1 0 0.8 EN(W)

07 15.06 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

08 13.53 2 1 0 1.4 EN(M)

09 11.48 2 1 0 1.6 EN(S)

10 10.14 0 0 0 1.8 EN(S)

11 5.48 1 0 0 2.1 EN(S) peak

12 5.73 0 0 0 2.1 EN(S) peak

1973 01 5.25 0 0 0 1.8 EN(S)

02 4.29 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

03 6.28 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

04 7.29 0 0 0 0.0

05 10.70 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) start

06 14.41 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

07 15.28 2 1 0 –1.0 LN(M)

08 15.33 2 1 0 –1.2 LN(M)

09 13.25 2 1 1 –1.4 LN(M)

10 8.89 2 1 0 –1.7 LN(S)

11 5.97 0 0 0 –1.9 LN(S)

12 4.97 0 0 0 –2.0 LN(S) peak

1974 01 6.06 0 0 0 –1.8 LN(S)

02 5.15 0 0 0 –1.6 LN(S)

03 5.63 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

04 8.45 0 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

05 10.30 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

06 12.64 1 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

07 13.90 1 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

08 14.45 4 2 2 –0.4

09 10.94 4 2 0 –0.5 LN(W) start

10 7.53 1 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

11 5.23 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

12 6.99 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

1975 01 5.90 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

02 5.22 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

03 5.07 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

04 8.67 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

05 10.09 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

06 14.03 1 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

07 16.29 1 1 0 –1.3 LN(M)

08 16.78 2 2 1 –1.3 LN(M)

09 12.09 3 3 2 –1.5 LN(S)

10 10.49 1 0 0 –1.6 LN(S)

11 6.32 0 0 0 –1.7 LN(S) peak

12 5.42 1 0 0 –1.7 LN(S) peak

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
28

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1976 01 5.49 0 0 0 –1.6 LN(S)

02 4.84 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

03 5.55 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

04 8.69 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

05 10.70 1 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

06 15.69 0 0 0 –0.2

07 16.45 1 0 0 0.1

08 16.33 5 4 2 0.3

09 12.24 2 1 0 0.6 EN(W) start

10 8.83 1 1 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

11 5.47 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

12 1.77 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

1977 01 2.31 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W)

02 4.08 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

03 6.85 0 0 0 0.3

04 7.26 0 0 0 0.2

05 9.92 0 0 0 0.2

06 12.40 0 0 0 0.4

07 15.99 0 0 0 0.4

08 14.45 1 1 1 0.4 Anita (150)

09 12.27 3 3 0 0.5 EN(W) start

10 11.41 2 1 0 0.7 EN(W)

11 4.11 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

12 6.00 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

1978 01 3.22 1 0 0 0.8 EN(W) peak

02 3.12 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

03 6.15 0 0 0 0.0

04 6.75 0 0 0 –0.3

05 11.72 0 0 0 –0.4

06 12.90 0 0 0 –0.3

07 14.41 1 0 0 –0.3

08 14.52 4 2 1 –0.4

09 13.51 3 2 1 –0.4

10 11.83 3 1 0 –0.3

11 8.16 0 0 0 –0.2

12 4.26 0 0 0 –0.1

1979 01 0.77 0 0 0 –0.1

02 2.35 0 0 0 0.0

03 4.21 0 0 0 0.1

04 7.22 0 0 0 0.2

05 8.92 0 0 0 0.1

06 13.58 1 0 0 0.0

07 15.33 2 1 0 0.1

08 13.92 3 2 2 0.2 David (150)

09 12.31 2 2 0 0.3

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
29

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1979 10 10.68 1 1 0 0.5

11 6.59 0 0 0 0.5

12 4.41 0 0 0 0.6

1980 01 2.50 0 0 0 0.5

02 5.17 0 0 0 0.4

03 4.77 0 0 0 0.3

04 9.09 0 0 0 0.2

05 11.34 0 0 0 0.3

06 12.97 0 0 0 0.3

07 13.84 0 0 0 0.2

08 15.13 3 3 1 0.0 Allen (165)

09 13.96 5 3 1 –0.1

10 8.69 1 1 0 0.0

11 6.69 2 2 0 0.0

12 5.19 0 0 0 0.0

1981 01 5.29 0 0 0 –0.2

02 4.31 0 0 0 –0.4

03 7.52 0 0 0 –0.4

04 8.40 0 0 0 –0.3

05 10.91 1 0 0 –0.2

06 12.91 1 0 0 –0.3

07 14.79 0 0 0 –0.3

08 16.16 2 1 0 –0.3

09 13.63 5 5 3 –0.2

10 6.97 1 0 0 –0.1

11 7.09 2 1 0 –0.1

12 1.55 0 0 0 0.0

1982 01 3.57 0 0 0 0.0

02 5.17 0 0 0 0.1

03 6.23 0 0 0 0.2

04 9.40 0 0 0 0.4

05 10.94 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) start

06 14.51 2 1 0 0.7 EN(W)

07 15.96 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

08 14.80 1 0 0 1.0 EN(M)

09 13.04 2 1 1 1.5 EN(S)

10 9.43 1 0 0 1.9 EN(S)

11 6.10 0 0 0 2.2 EN(S)

12 4.09 0 0 0 2.3 EN(S) peak

1983 01 5.67 0 0 0 2.3 EN(S) peak

02 2.89 0 0 0 2.1 EN(S)

03 7.12 0 0 0 1.6 EN(S)

04 6.29 0 0 0 1.3 EN(M)

05 10.02 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M)

06 13.59 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) end

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
30

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1983 07 18.04 0 0 0 0.3

08 17.04 2 2 1 –0.1

09 12.95 2 1 0 –0.5

10 9.91 0 0 0 –0.7

11 7.21 0 0 0 –0.9

12 6.50 0 0 0 –0.7

1984 01 2.52 0 0 0 –0.4

02 4.50 0 0 0 –0.2

03 5.11 0 0 0 –0.2

04 8.65 0 0 0 –0.3

05 10.08 0 0 0 –0.4

06 14.61 0 0 0 –0.4

07 16.13 0 0 0 –0.3

08 16.49 4 0 0 –0.2

09 12.42 6 2 1 –0.2

10 9.83 1 1 0 –0.6 LN(W) start

11 5.89 1 1 0 –0.9 LN(W)

12 5.29 1 1 0 –1.1 LN(M) peak

1985 01 0.62 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

02 3.81 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

03 4.99 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

04 8.84 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

05 10.40 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

06 12.49 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

07 15.10 2 1 0 –0.6 LN(W)

08 13.57 3 3 1 –0.5 LN(W)

09 13.99 3 1 1 –0.6 LN(W) end

10 9.14 2 1 0 –0.4

11 3.97 1 1 1 –0.4

12 6.01 0 0 0 –0.4

1986 01 3.61 0 0 0 –0.5

02 1.00 0 0 0 –0.5

03 5.71 0 0 0 –0.3

04 5.82 0 0 0 –0.2

05 10.46 0 0 0 –0.1

06 14.37 2 1 0 0.0

07 14.81 0 0 0 0.2

08 12.36 1 1 0 0.4

09 11.62 2 1 0 0.6 EN(W) start

10 10.43 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 7.11 1 1 0 1.0 EN(M)

12 5.58 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

1987 01 3.08 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

02 4.23 0 0 0 1.3 EN(M)

03 5.09 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
31

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1987 04 9.62 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

05 10.64 0 0 0 1.0 EN(M)

06 11.98 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

07 15.94 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S)

08 15.06 3 1 0 1.7 EN(S) peak

09 12.45 3 1 1 1.6 EN(S)

10 8.45 1 1 0 1.5 EN(S)

11 6.74 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

12 5.58 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

1988 01 4.51 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W)

02 4.90 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

03 6.69 0 0 0 0.1

04 8.89 0 0 0 –0.3

05 11.10 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W) start

06 14.81 0 0 0 –1.3 LN(M)

07 14.12 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

08 14.48 3 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

09 12.76 7 4 2 –1.3 LN(M); Gilbert (160)

10 9.86 1 1 1 –1.6 LN(S)

11 5.93 1 1 0 –2.0 LN(S) peak

12 7.84 0 0 0 –2.0 LN(S) peak

1989 01 7.08 0 0 0 –1.8 LN(S)

02 5.91 0 0 0 –1.6 LN(S)

03 6.85 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

04 6.57 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

05 12.11 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) end

06 14.23 1 0 0 –0.4

07 18.24 2 1 0 –0.4

08 15.15 4 4 1 –0.4

09 12.95 2 1 1 –0.4 Hugo (140)

10 11.26 1 1 0 –0.3

11 6.64 1 0 0 –0.2

12 3.90 0 0 0 –0.1

1990 01 6.22 0 0 0 0.1

02 5.73 0 0 0 0.1

03 8.42 0 0 0 0.3

04 7.98 0 0 0 0.3

05 12.42 0 0 0 0.2

06 13.04 0 0 0 0.2

07 15.85 2 1 0 0.3

08 16.11 6 2 1 0.3

09 12.04 2 2 0 0.3

10 10.88 4 3 0 0.3

11 6.38 0 0 0 0.3

12 4.16 0 0 0 0.4

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
32

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1991 01 3.47 0 0 0 0.4

02 3.0 0 0 0 00.4

03 7.31 0 0 0 0.3

04 7.92 0 0 0 0.3

05 11.24 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W) start

06 11.87 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

07 16.39 1 0 0 1.0 EN(M)

08 16.05 1 1 1 0.9 EN(W)

09 13.74 3 1 1 0.9 EN(W)

10 9.45 3 2 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 6.46 0 0 0 1.3 EN(M)

12 6.21 0 0 0 1.6 EN(S)

1992 01 4.86 0 0 0 1.8 EN(S) peak

02 5.97 0 0 0 1.7 EN(S)

03 7.55 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S)

04 8.14 1 0 0 1.4 EN(M)

05 12.27 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

06 15.03 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

07 15.13 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

08 13.82 1 1 1 0.2 Andrew (150)

09 11.73 4 2 0 –0.1

10 7.55 1 1 0 –0.1

11 7.09 0 0 0 0.1

12 4.26 0 0 0 0.3

1993 01 5.92 0 0 0 0.4

02 6.63 0 0 0 0.4

03 6.60 0 0 0 0.5

04 9.19 0 0 0 0.7

05 10.53 0 0 0 0.7

06 14.13 1 0 0 0.7

07 14.32 0 0 0 0.4

08 13.88 4 1 1 0.3

09 12.05 3 3 0 0.3

10 7.71 0 0 0 0.3

11 5.39 0 0 0 0.3

12 4.87 0 0 0 0.3

1994 01 4.85 0 0 0 0.2

02 3.01 0 0 0 0.2

03 6.86 0 0 0 0.2

04 7.58 0 0 0 0.3

05 9.85 0 0 0 0.4

06 12.86 0 0 0 0.4

07 15.71 1 0 0 0.5 EN(W) start

08 14.11 2 1 0 0.5 EN(W)

09 12.10 2 0 0 0.7 EN(W)

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
33

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1994 10 10.06 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 9.56 2 2 0 1.3 EN(M) peak

12 6.04 0 0 0 1.3 EN(M) peak

1995 01 4.76 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

02 6.0 0 0 0 00.9 EN(W)

03 5.42 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W) end

04 8.98 0 0 0 0.3

05 10.92 0 0 0 0.2

06 14.21 1 1 0 0.1

07 17.05 4 1 0 –0.1

08 18.24 7 4 2 –0.2

09 13.21 3 3 2 –0.5 LN(W) start

10 12.36 4 2 1 –0.6 LN(W)

11 8.16 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W) peak

12 3.40 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W) peak

1996 01 6.19 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W) peak

02 3.58 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

03 5.40 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

04 8.84 0 0 0 –0.3

05 8.88 0 0 0 –0.2

06 13.66 1 0 0 –0.2

07 15.25 2 2 1 –0.1

08 14.78 4 3 2 –0.2

09 13.39 2 2 2 –0.1

10 11.17 3 1 1 –0.2

11 5.70 1 1 0 –0.3

12 3.87 0 0 0 –0.4

1997 01 4.49 0 0 0 –0.4

02 6.26 0 0 0 –0.3

03 8.12 0 0 0 –0.1

04 9.34 0 0 0 0.3

05 11.23 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) start

06 12.80 1 0 0 1.3 EN(M)

07 15.68 4 2 0 1.7 EN(S)

08 17.09 0 0 0 2.0 EN(S)

09 13.09 1 1 1 2.2 EN(S)

10 10.58 2 0 0 2.4 EN(S)

11 8.89 0 0 0 2.5 EN(S) peak

12 6.35 0 0 0 2.5 EN(S) peak

1998 01 4.94 0 0 0 2.3 EN(S)

02 8.33 0 0 0 2.0 EN(S)

03 8.06 0 0 0 1.4 EN(M)

04 7.45 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M) end

05 11.99 0 0 0 0.4

06 13.10 0 0 0 –0.1

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
34

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

1998 07 14.56 1 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) start

08 15.30 4 3 1 –1.0 LN(M)

09 13.86 6 4 1 –1.1 LN(M)

10 10.16 2 2 1 –1.2 LN(M); Mitch (155)

11 7.05 1 1 0 –1.4 LN(M)

12 6.30 0 0 0 –1.5 LN(S) peak 1

1999 01 5.02 0 0 0 –1.5 LN(S) peak 1

02 5.79 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

03 7.33 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

04 9.54 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

05 12.06 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

06 12.87 1 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

07 16.54 0 0 0 –0.9 LN(W)

08 15.36 4 3 2 –1.0 LN(M)

09 14.48 3 2 2 –1.0 LN(M)

10 10.78 3 2 0 –1.2 LN(M)

11 7.77 1 1 1 –1.4 LN(M)

12 4.61 0 0 0 –1.7 LN(S) peak 2

2000 01 5.21 0 0 0 –1.7 LN(S) peak 2

02 6.28 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

03 7.89 0 0 0 –1.0 LN(M)

04 7.15 0 0 0 –0.8 LN(W)

05 11.61 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W)

06 14.03 0 0 0 –0.6 LN(W) end

07 15.54 0 0 0 –0.4

08 16.03 4 2 1 –0.4

09 14.14 7 5 2 –0.4

10 9.94 4 1 0 –0.5 LN(W) start

11 6.27 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) peak

12 5.09 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) peak

2001 01 3.07 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W) peak

02 4.63 0 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

03 5.05 0 0 0 –0.4

04 7.75 0 0 0 –0.3

05 12.49 0 0 0 –0.1

06 13.24 1 0 0 0.1

07 15.27 0 0 0 0.1

08 15.45 3 0 0 0.0

09 13.39 4 4 2 0.0

10 12.41 4 2 1 –0.1

11 8.09 3 3 1 –0.1

12 4.09 0 0 0 –0.2

2002 01 6.82 0 0 0 –0.1

02 6.41 0 0 0 0.1

03 7.71 0 0 0 0.2

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
35

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

2002 04 8.93 0 0 0 0.4

05 11.37 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W) start

06 13.53 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

07 14.55 1 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

08 15.81 3 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

09 13.82 8 4 2 1.1 EN(M)

10 9.37 0 0 0 1.3 EN(M)

11 8.74 0 0 0 1.5 EN(S) peak

12 5.38 0 0 0 1.4 EN(M)

2003 01 4.60 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M)

02 4.68 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

03 7.22 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

04 9.69 1 0 0 0.1

05 11.03 0 0 0 –0.1

06 14.30 1 0 0 0.0

07 16.44 2 2 0 0.3

08 16.41 3 2 1 0.4

09 13.67 5 3 2 0.5 Isabel (145)

10 9.03 2 0 0 0.5

11 7.91 0 0 0 0.6

12 5.30 2 0 0 0.4

2004 01 5.38 0 0 0 0.4

02 4.98 0 0 0 0.2

03 6.95 0 0 0 0.2

04 9.17 0 0 0 0.2

05 11.71 0 0 0 0.3

06 15.06 0 0 0 0.4

07 14.78 0 0 0 0.7 EN(W) start

08 16.38 8 5 3 0.8 EN(W)

09 14.02 4 4 3 0.9 EN(W) peak; Ivan (145)

10 9.12 2 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

11 8.55 1 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

12 6.42 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W)

2005 01 6.3 0 0 0 0.6 EN(W)

02 5.1 0 0 0 0.5 EN(W) end

03 7.8 0 0 0 0.4

04 8.4 0 0 0 0.5

05 10.6 0 0 0 0.5

06 14.8 2 0 0 0.5

07 15.9 5 3 2 0.5 Emily (140)

08 15.5 5 2 1 0.3 Katrina (150)

09 14.5 5 5 2 0.2 Rita (155)

10 11.8 7 4 2 –0.1 Wilma (160)

11 6.4 3 1 0 –0.4

12 5.8 1 0 0 –0.8

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
36

Year Month AT NTC NH NMH ONI Comments

2006 01 5.1 0 0 0 –0.8

02 4.8 0 0 0 –0.6

03 5.8 0 0 0 –0.3

04 8.3 0 0 0 –0.1

05 11.3 0 0 0 0.2

06 15.4 1 0 0 0.3

07 18.0 2 0 0 0.4

08 15.5 3 1 0 0.5 EN(W) start

09 15.0 4 4 2 0.7 EN(W)

10 12.1 0 0 0 0.9 EN(W)

11 7.4 0 0 0 1.2 EN(M) peak

12 6.4 0 0 0 1.1 EN(M)

2007 01 6.5 0 0 0 0.8 EN(W) end

02 5.8 0 0 0 0.4

03 6.9 0 0 0 0.1

04 11.2 0 0 0 –0.1

05 11.7 1 0 0 0.0

06 14.5 1 0 0 –0.1

07 14.8 1 0 0 –0.2

08 15.2 2 1 1 –0.5 LN(W) start; Dean (145)

09 13.7 8 4 1 –0.8 LN(W); Felix (145)

10 11.7 1 1 0 –1.1 LN(M)

11 8.8 0 0 0 –1.2 LN(M)

12 6.3 1 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

2008 01 6.0 0 0 0 –1.5 LN(S)

02 6.0 0 0 0 –1.4 LN(M)

03 6.2 0 0 0 –1.1 LN(M)

04 8.4 0 0 0 –0.7 LN(W)

05 13.2 1 0 0 –0.5 LN(W) end

06 13.8 0 0 0 –0.4

07 15.8 3 2 1 –0.1

08 15.5 4 2 1 0.0

09 12.7 4 2 1 0.0

10 9.0 3 1 1 –0.1

11 6.8 1 1 1

12 0 0 0

Notes:

• Armagh temperatures are calibrated through December 2004; values are provisional beginning January 2005.

• ONI values are determined from the 3-mo running mean of ERSST.v3 SST anaomalies in the Nino 3.4 

region based on the 1971–2000 base period, where EN/southern oscillation conditions (W=weak, 

M=moderate, S=strong) are defined when the threshold is met for a minimum of five consecutive months. 

• Negative ONI means cooler and positive ONI means warmer. 

• Counts refer to the month of onset (when sustained winds exceeded 34 kt). 

• For the 1950–2005 timeframe, data were extracted from reference 23. 

For 2006 and 2007, data were extracted from year-end season reports (best track tables, including data 

only when tropical cyclone is described as tropical storm or hurricane).

Table 10. Monthly values of AT, NTC, NH, NMH, and ONI (1950–2008) (Continued).
37

subtropical storm forming on January 19, while several years have had storms forming in December, 

including 1953, 1954, 1984, 2003, 2005, and 2007. The most prolific month/years (those having 7 or 

more tropical cyclones being named in a single month) include September 1988 (7 named storms, 

including Gilbert), August 1995 (7 named storms), September 2000 (7 named storms), September 

2002 (8 named storms), August 2004 (8 named storms), October 2005 (7 named storms, including 

Wilma), and September 2007 (8 named storms, including Felix). In 2008, the months of August and 

September each provided the most named storms (4 each, including Gustav in August and Ike in 

September) and the last tropical cyclone was named in November (Paloma).

Table 11 gives the monthly counts of NTC, NH, and NMH for 1950–2008 by ONI condition 

(EN, LN, and neutral) and in total. Noticeable is that tropical cyclones have occurred in all months 

of the year except March, with the bulk occurring in August–October (77.3%). Similarly, the bulk 

of all hurricanes and major hurricanes have occurred in August–October (83.5% and 91.8%, respectively). No hurricanes or major hurricanes have been seen in January–April and only two hurricanes 

(no major hurricanes) have been seen in December. When El Niño is present, major hurricanes have 

occurred only in the months of July (1 event) and August–September (25 events). When La Niña 

is present, major hurricanes have occurred exclusively in August–November (49 events). When neutral conditions prevail, major hurricanes have occurred throughout the hurricane season, May–

November (159 events, about half in September alone).

Table 11. Monthly counts of NTC, NH, and NMH based on ONI condition (1950–2008).

Month

NTC NH NMH

EN LN Neutral Total EN LN Neutral Total EN LN Neutral Total

January 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

February 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

March 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

April 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

May 1 2 6 9 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1

June 8 6 21 35 3 1 6 10 1 0 1 2

July 7 13 37 57 2 4 20 26 0 0 5 5

August 31 41 96 168 16 27 58 101 8 15 32 55

September 56 69 94 219 35 45 66 146 17 24 34 75

October 24 33 50 107 13 20 28 61 0 8 8 16

November 6 8 18 32 4 5 12 21 0 2 3 5

December 0 4 4 8 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0

Total 135 176 328 639 73 104 192 369 26 49 84 159

As previously noted, the two groups giving early forecasts for the upcoming 2009 North 

Atlantic basin hurricane season in December 2008 include the CSU team and the TSR team. The 

initial CSU December estimate24 for the 2009 hurricane season is for 14 tropical cyclones, including 

7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, while the initial TSR December estimate25 for the 2009 hurricane season is for 14.8±4.3 tropical cyclones, including 7.7±2.8 hurricanes and 3.5±1.8 major (or 
38

intense) hurricanes, or about 10–19 tropical cyclones, 5–11 hurricanes, and 2–5 major hurricanes to 

be expected for the 2009 North Atlantic basin hurricane season. Thus, both groups anticipate continued above-average activity in the upcoming season, very similar to the 1995–2008 averages for NTC, 

NH, and NMH (equal to 14.9, 8.0, and 3.9, respectively).

Recall from table 4 that the peak probability for NTC in the presumed high-activity mode 

based on Poisson statistics is 12 (P(12)=11.4%), with the central 50% being about 9–14 (P(9–14)

=51.2%), and there is only a 13.8% chance of having fewer than 9 tropical cyclones and a 23.4% 

chance of having more than 14 tropical cyclones during the season. For NH and NMH, their peak 

probabilities, presuming the high-activity mode, are 7 (P(7)=14.9%) and 3 (P(3)=20.8%), respectively, with central 50% intervals being about 5–8 (P(5–8)=55.2%) for NH, and 2–4 (P(2–4)=56.8%) 

for NMH. There is only a 16.4% chance of having fewer than 5 hurricanes and a 28% chance of having more than 8 hurricanes during the season, and there is only an 11.3% chance of having fewer than 

2 major hurricanes and a 31.9% chance of having more than 4 major hurricanes during the season.

Instead, based on the statistics of the current high-activity interval (1995–2008), one finds the 

central 50% intervals to be about 12–18 for NTC, 6–10 for NH, and 3–5 for NMH, presuming a normal distribution for each. The 90% prediction intervals are about 7–23 for NTC, 3–13 for NH, and 

1–7 for NMH, suggesting only a 5% chance of having fewer than 7 or more than 23 tropical cyclones 

during the season, fewer than 3 or more than 13 hurricanes during the season, and either none or 

more than 7 major hurricanes during the season.

When EN-like conditions prevail, one anticipates a slight reduction in the anticipated seasonal frequencies of NTC, NH, and NMH, while when non-EN-like conditions prevail (especially, when LN-like conditions prevail), one anticipates a slight increase in the anticipated 

seasonal frequencies. It has been more than 24 mo since the last EN event ended (January 2007) 

and because EN events recur, on average, ≈32 mo after their previous end date, it is not inconceivable that another EN event could begin during the 2009 hurricane season. However, because 

the latest NOAA EN/LN forecast26 is for continued neutral-to-LN conditions prevailing throughout 2009, with about half of the forecasts calling for another LN event, one anticipates continued above-average frequencies for the upcoming 2009 hurricanes season; i.e., ≥11 tropical cyclones, 

≥6 hurricanes, and ≥3 major hurricanes.

Based on the usual behaviors of their first differences in 10-yma values; i.e., d=±0.1, ≈50% 

or more of the time, one anticipates NTC=10–14, NH=8–12, and NMH=1–5 for the 2009 hurricane season. However, if global warming is now the principal driver for anticipating the frequencies 

of tropical cyclones during the current high-activity interval, as suggested by the highly statistically 

significant inferred linear regression and bi-variate regression fits, then the anticipated seasonal frequencies for the 2009 hurricane season might be considerably higher than average. Presuming the 

10-yma value for AT and ONI to be 10.14±0.05 oC and –0.04± 0.05 oC, respectively, for 2004, one 

expects seasonal frequencies for the 2009 hurricane season could be about 18±8 for NTC, 18±4 for 

NH, and 11±2 for NMH, with the latter two frequencies being of near-record to record size.
39

In summary, the 2009 North Atlantic basin hurricane season is expected to be one that will 

be of higher activity than long-term averages, suggesting continuation of the high-activity mode that 

has been in vogue since 1995. Furthermore, the season could be one of near-record to record size, 

especially, if global warming is now the principal driver for generating tropical cyclones.
40
41

REFERENCES

 1. Wilson, R.M.: “Comment on ‘Downward Trends in the Frequency of Intense Atlantic Hurricanes during the Past Five Decades’ by C.W. Landsea et al.,” Geophys. Res. Letts., Vol. 24, 

p. 2203, 1997.

 2. Wilson, R.M.: “Deciphering the Long-Term Trend of Atlantic Basin Intense Hurricanes: 

More Active Versus Less Active During the Present Epoch,” NASA/TP—1998–209003, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 16 pp., December 1998, available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/

archive/00000460/>.

 3. Wilson, R.M.: “Statistical Aspects of ENSO Events (1950-1997) and the El Niño-Atlantic Intense 

Hurricane Activity Relationship,” NASA/TP—1998–209005, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 

24 pp., December 1998, available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/archive/00000462/>.

 4. Wilson, R.M.: “Statistical Aspects of Major (Intense) Hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin During 

the Past 49 Hurricane Seasons (1950–1998): Implications for the Current Season,” Geophys. Res. 

Letts., Vol. 26, p. 2957, 1999.

 5. Wilson, R.M.: “El Niño During the 1990’s: Harbinger of Climatic Change or Normal Fluctuation,” NASA/TP—2000–209960, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 12 pp., February 2000, 

available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/archive/00000513/>.

 6. Wilson, R.M.: “On the Bimodality of ENSO Cycle Extremes,” NASA/TP—2000–209961, 

Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 24 pp., February 2000, available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/

archive/00000514/>.

 7. Wilson, R.M.: “Decadal Trends of Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclones (1950–1999),” NASA/

TP–210991, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 32 pp., May 2001 available at <http://trs.nis.

nasa.gov/archive/00000563/>.

 8. Wilson, R.M.: “Statistical Aspects of the North Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclones: Trends, Natural Variability, and Global Warming,” NASA/TP—2007–214905, Marshall Space Flight Center, 

AL, 60 pp., May 2007, available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/archive/00000747/>.

 9. Wilson, R.M.: “An Estimate of North Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Activity for 2008,” 

NASA/TP—2008–215471, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 38 pp., August 2008, available 

at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/archive/00000788/>.

10. NOAA National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season, 

<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2008atlan.shtml>, Accessed December 2008.
42

11. Colorado State University, The Tropical Meteorology Project, <http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.

edu/forecasts/>, Accessed December 2008.

12. McElroy, E.E.: Applied Business Statistics, 2nd Edition, Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, p. 174, 

1979.

13. NOAA National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center, <http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/

products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensoyears.shtml>, Accessed December 2008.

14. Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NWS: “El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic 

Discussion,” NOAA, Camp Springs, MD, December 11, 2008.

15. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration El Niño 

page, <http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/>, Accessed January 2008.

16. Butler, C.J.; and Johnson, D.J.: “A Provisional Long Mean Air Temperature Series for Armagh 

Observatory,” J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., Vol. 58, p. 1657, 1996.

17. Coughlin, A.D.S.; and Butler, C.J.: “Is Urban Spread Affecting the Mean Temperature at Armagh 

Observatory,” Irish Astron. J., Vol. 25, p. 125, 1998.

18. Wilson, R.M.: “Evidence for Solar-Cycle Forcing and Secular Variation in the Armagh Observatory Temperature Record (1844–1992),” J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 103, p. 11,159, 1998.

19. Butler, C.J.; García Suárez, A.M.; Coughlin, A.D.S.; and Morrell, C.: “Air Temperatures at 

Armagh Observatory, Northern Ireland, From 1796 to 2002, J. Climatol., Vol. 25, p. 1055, 2005.

20. Wilson, R.M.; and Hathaway, D.H.: “Examination of the Armagh Observatory Annual Mean 

Temperature Record, 1844–2004,” NASA/TP—2006–214434, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 

24 pp., July 2006, available at <http://trs.nis.nasa.gov/archive/00000727/>.

21. Armagh Observatory Meteorology Data Bank, Monthly Records, <http://climate.arm.ac.uk/

scan.html>, Accessed December 2008.

22. Armagh Observatory Meteorology Data Bank, Air Temperature Data, <http://climate.arm.

ac.uk/calibrated/airtemp/index.html>, Accessed December 2008.

23. NOAA National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

tracks1851to2005_atl.txt/>, Accessed December 2008.

24. Klotzbach, P.J.; and Gray, W.M.: “Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane 

Activity and U.S. Landfall Strike Probability for 2009,” Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 

CO, December 10, 2008.
43

25. Saunders, M.; and Lea, A.: “Extended Range Forecast for Atlantic Hurricane Activity in 2009,” 

University College London, United Kingdom, December 5, 2008.

26. Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NWS: “El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostics 

Discussion, NOAA, Camp Springs, MD, January 8, 2009.
44

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An Extended Forecast of the Frequencies of North Altantic Basin

Tropical Cyclone Activity for 2009

Robert M. Wilson

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546–0001

Unclassified-Unlimited

Subject Category 47

Availability: NASA CASI (443–757–5802)

Prepared by the Science and Exploration Vehicle Office, Science and Mission Systems Office

M–1253

Technical Publication

NASA/TP—2009–215741

tropical cyclones, hurricanes, hurricane forecasting, Atlantic basin, El Niño, La Niña, Oceanic Niño 

Index, global warming

01–03–2009

UU 52

NASA

U U U

An extended forecast of the frequencies for the 2009 North Atlantic basin hurricane season is presented. Continued increased 

activity during the 2009 season with numbers of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes exceeding long-term 

averages are indicated. Poisson statistics for the combined high-activity intervals (1950–1965 and 1995–2008) give the central 

50% intervals to be 9–14, 5–8, and 2–4, respectively, for the number of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes, 

with a 23.4% chance of exceeding 14 tropical cyclones, a 28% chance of exceeding 8 hurricanes, and a 31.9% chance of exceeding 

4 major hurricanes. Based strictly on the statistics of the current high-activity interval (1995–2008), the central 50% intervals 

for the numbers of tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are 12–18, 6–10, and 3–5, respectively, with only 

a 5% chance of exceeding 23, 13, or 7 storms, respectively. Also examined are the first differences in 10-yr moving averages and the 

effects of global warming and decadal-length oscillations on the frequencies of occurrence for North Atlantic basin tropical cyclones. 

In particular, temperature now appears to be the principal driver of increased activity and storm strength during the current high-activity 

interval, with near-record values possible during the 2009 season.

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or cosponsored by NASA.

• SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, technical, 

or historical information from NASA programs, 

projects, and missions, often concerned with 

subjects having substantial public interest.

• TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. Englishlanguage translations of foreign scientific and 

technical material pertinent to NASA’s mission.

Specialized services also include creating 

custom thesauri, building customized databases, 

and organizing and publishing research results.

For more information about the NASA STI 

program, see the following:

• Access the NASA STI program home page at 

<http://www.sti.nasa.gov>

• E-mail your question via the Internet to 

<help@sti.nasa.gov>

• Fax your question to the NASA STI Help Desk 

at 443–757–5803

• Phone the NASA STI Help Desk at 

443 –757–5802

• Write to:

NASA STI Help Desk

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7115 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076–1320
National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

IS20

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

35812