Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report: Impact ... - Aon

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AnnuAl GlobAl Cli mAte And C AtAstroph e r e port 2009 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Review Figure 8: Eastern Pacific Hurricanes Over The Last 25 Years 20 Hurricanes 2009’s Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season was closer to normal than the previous two years. The eastern Pacific Ocean produced 20 named storms, 25 percent above the average of 16.4 named storms. Eight hurricanes developed during the season (compared to a 25-year average of 9.0) – which was 11 percent below average. Five of these hurricanes strengthened to major hurricane status, 28 percent above the 25-year average of 3.9. One hurricane, Jimena, made landfall, which is near the 25-year average of 1.2. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) played a large role in this year’s activity across the eastern portions of the Pacific Ocean. Because of warm sea surface temperatures across the region due to a switch to an El Niño phase, many tropical systems were able to develop. Five of those storms that did develop and became hurricanes strengthened into major hurricanes. The very warm sea surface temperatures and low amounts of upper atmospheric wind shear promoted tropical system development through much of the season. See Appendix B for information on hurricane frequency as it relates to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation cycle. 2009’s Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season, which typically starts on May 15th, got a late start this year. The first system developed first on June 21st, the latest starting season in nearly 40 years. However, favorable conditions more than made up for the late start, with the most active August occurring in the last 41 years with seven named storms. Hurricane Rick, which achieved a peak intensity of 180 mph (285 kph), became the second most powerful hurricane to ever develop in the eastern Pacific, only behind 1997’s Hurricane Linda of 185 mph (295 kph). The last Category 5 major hurricane to develop in the eastern Pacific was 2002’s Hurricane Kenna. Rick quickly weakened as it turned from a west-northwest heading to a northeast heading and made landfall near Mazatlan with winds of 55 mph (90 kph). Hurricane Andres caused heavy rains that triggered flooding and landslides to coastal Mexico, even though it never made landfall. Hurricane Jimena was the only system in 2009 that made landfall as a hurricane across the eastern Pacific Ocean. The system made landfall as a weak Category 2 hurricane on Baja California. 10 15 10 5 0 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Normal = 9 East Pacific Hurricanes 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2009 Western Pacific Typhoon Season Review Figure 9: Western Pacific Typhoons Over The Last 25 Years 30 Typhons 25 20 15 10 5 0 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Year Aon b e n field: i m pAC t foreC AstinG For the fifth consecutive year, typhoon activity across the western Pacific Ocean was below the long-term average. A total of 25 named storms developed in the western Pacific Ocean, 17 percent below the 25-year average of 29.7. Of those storms, 14 typhoons formed – 18 percent below the 25-year average of 17.4. Only seven of the 14 typhoons reached Category 3 or higher – 22 percent below the 25-year average of 9.2. Of the 14 typhoons, eight made landfall – 11 percent below the 25-year average of 9.2. The western Pacific’s typhoon season can start as early as January and continue year-round, which was the case in 2009. The first tropical system of 2009, named Auring, formed on January 3rd. Over a month went by before the next storm system, named Bising, developed east of Surigao City on Mindanao Island. The system following Bising didn’t form until April 30th, when Crising formed southeast of Luzon. Two storms developed in both May and June, and one of these storms, Typhoon Kujira, reached Category 4 status. Two tropical systems developed in July, and one of these, Molave, became a minimal typhoon. Typhoon frequency increased rapidly in August, with a total of seven tropical systems. Only two of these storms became typhoons. The active period continued into September with nine named storms. The strongest storm during the month of September was Super Typhoon Choi-Wan with 260 kph (160 mph) peak winds. Tropical system frequency decreased in October, November and December. A late season storm became the strongest of the 2009 western Pacific Ocean typhoon season. Super Typhoon Nida, which developed on November 22nd and dissipated on December 3rd, reached a peak intensity of 295 kph (185 mph), but the system did not affect any major landmasses. The second most powerful storm of the 2009 Western Pacific Typhoon Season was Super Typhoon Melor, which reached a peak intensity of 270 kph (165 mph) and dissipated by October 8th after making landfall in southeastern Japan. 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Normal = 17.4 West Pacific Typhoons 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 11
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL GLOBAL CLIMATE AND CATASTROP
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents ExECUTIvE SUMMARy
Page 5 and 6: Aon b e n field: i m pAC t foreC As
Page 7 and 8: 2009 Climate Review Aon b e n field
Page 9: 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Revi
Page 13 and 14: 2009 United States Tornado Season R
Page 15 and 16: 2010 Climate and Atlantic Hurricane
Page 19 and 20: Figure 20: 2007 Forecast forecast p
Page 21 and 22: 2009 Monthly Catastrophe Review Jan
Page 27 and 28: March Aon b e n field: i m pAC t fo
Page 33 and 34: May • tropical Cyclone Aila destr
Page 37 and 38: June Aon b e n field: i m pAC t for
Page 43 and 44: August Aon b e n field: i m pAC t f
Page 49 and 50: October • four separate typhoons
Page 51 and 52: November • historic rainfall trig
Page 53 and 54: December • first major winter sto
Page 55 and 56: Appendix A: Catastrophe Recap Table
Page 57 and 58: United States (Continued) event dat
Page 59 and 60: Africa event date event name or typ
Page 61 and 62:
Asia (Continued) event date event n
Page 63 and 64:
Oceania (Australia, New Guinea, New
Page 65 and 66:
Eastern Pacific Ocean Basin (ENSO)
Page 67 and 68:
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