WSI Corporation of Andover, Massachusetts has updated its 2009 hurricane season forecast on June 23, 2009. The new forecast continues to call for 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 intense hurricanes (category 3 or greater).

These forecast numbers are the same as the previous WSI forecasts issued in April and May due to a continuation of relatively cool tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures and a trend towards El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific. The 2009 forecast numbers are quite close to the long-term (1950-2008) average of 9.8 named storms, 6.0 hurricanes, and 2.5 intense hurricanes, but are significantly lower than the numbers from the relatively active seasons of the past 15 years.

“Ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic are cooler, relative to normal, than at any time since 1994," said WSI seasonal forecaster Dr. Todd Crawford. “Further, the new El Niño event continues to strengthen, and the recent patterns of tropical Pacific thunderstorm development have already responded to El Niño. This has resulted in an unfavorable wind shear environment across the tropical Pacific. This early emergence of this enhanced wind shear along with the relatively cool tropical Atlantic temperatures will almost certainly result in a less-active season then last year, and could potentially result in an unusually quiet season.”

The next update on the 2009 hurricane season will be issued on July 20.