THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON SUMMARY – 2009

1. THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON SUMMARY – 2009 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AND THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

2. The 2009 hurricane season had been relatively quiet for most countries in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. It would appear that the el Nino event and its impacts on the hurricane season generally held true, especially in the Western Caribbean. The Northeast Caribbean including Antigua & Barbuda and the Leeward islands experienced a number of threats from most of the storms/hurricane that developed in the Atlantic but apart from heightened excitement and some needed rainfall, not much activity was recorded

3. Tropical Cyclone Information Phase • Tropical Cyclone Pre-alert Phase • Tropical Cyclone Alert Phase • Tropical Cyclone Watch Phase • Tropical Cyclone Warning Phase • Post Tropical Cyclone/Recovery Phase Monitored Area

4. Tropical Cyclone Information Phase The time period during which a tropical cyclone is outside of the monitored area and is NOT forecast to enter the monitored area • Tropical Cyclone Pre-alert Phase That time period during which a storm is outside of the monitored area and forecast to enter the monitored area within 24 hours. • Tropical Cyclone Alert Phase That time period for which there is a tropical cyclone in the monitored area but not close enough for a watch or warning to be issued. • Tropical Cyclone Watch Phase The tropical cyclone watch phase is that time period during which a tropical cyclone watch is in effect. • Tropical Cyclone Warning Phase The tropical cyclone warning phase is that time period during which a tropical cyclone warning is in effect. • Post Tropical Cyclone/Recovery Phase The post tropical cyclone/recovery phase is the time it takes for the ABMS to return to normalcy, after the all clear is given.

5. Relative to Antigua and Barbuda, the rest of the Leeward Islands and the British Virgin Islands, five (5) tropical cyclones entered the monitored area (5 and 22N, 40 and 70W). These were Ana, Bill, Erika, Grace and Henri. No hurricane affected Antigua and Barbuda this year. However, the islands were affected by Tropical Depression Ana and Tropical Storm Erika i.e. these systems passed within 125 statute miles of Antigua and Barbuda. The last hurricane to affect Antigua and Barbuda and the Leeward islands was Omar in October 2008.

6. Tropical Storm Ana August 11 to 16, 2009 • Ana affected Antigua and Barbuda on August 16 and 17 • The maximum 1-minute sustained wind speed measured was 32 knots; • The maximum 10-minute speed was 29 knots with the maximum gust 39 knots • Measured over the period 0420 – 30 UTC on 17 • Some showers were isolatedly heavy and resulted in minor flooding in flood prone and low-lying areas.

7. Tropical Storm Erika 1500 UTC, September 3, 2009 • Storm force gusts early Sept 3 At V. C. Bird International Airport: • The maximum 1-minute sustained wind speed measured was 30 knots; • The maximum 10-minute speed was 29 knots, and the maximum gust was 38 knots. Measured over the period 0700 – 0710 UTC • Some showers were isolatedly heavy and resulted in minor flooding in flood prone and low-lying areas.

10. Thank you !!