Marty (2009)

A small tropical cyclone formed from a tropical wave in the eastern North Pacific and became a tropical depression at 0000 UTC on 16 September 2009 about 325 nautical miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The system strengthened to Tropical Storm Marty later on 16 September and moved slowly northwestward to north-northwestward for a few days. Increasing wind shear and drier, cooler air halted intensification and Marty weakened to a depression on 18 September, became a remnant low on 19 September, and dissipated well west of Baja California on 23 September.

Marty did not make landfall. It remained over open waters throughout its life and never affected land.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at 40 knots (about 46 mph), with a minimum central pressure near 1002 mb at peak intensity on 16–17 September. At that peak it was a weak tropical storm (below hurricane strength).

Because Marty stayed over the ocean, there were no reported storm surge measurements or significant rainfall totals tied to the cyclone at populated locations; no ship reports of tropical-storm-force winds were received.

There were no reports of damage or casualties—no direct or indirect deaths were associated with Marty. The greatest impact was limited to the presence of a short-lived tropical storm over open water.

Forecasts and observations: the system’s development was anticipated reasonably well, with the precursor wave highlighted in outlooks more than two days before formation. Official track and intensity forecasts for Marty were generally accurate and, in many cases, outperformed or matched guidance models for this short-lived storm.