Several weather monitoring agencies including the Tropical Storm Risk Initiative in the United Kingdom and the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, predict that the level of hurricane activity in the Atlantic will be at or above normal for the 2009 hurricane season. Some US predictions say there will be 9 to 14 named storms, 4 to 7 hurricanes and 1 to 3 major hurricanes.

Last year, all of eastern Canada felt the impacts of the hurricane season as five post-tropical storms entered Canada or its waters. Cristobal tracked through the marine district south of Atlantic Canada; Hanna passed through the southern Maritimes; Ike swept through southern Ontario, Quebec and Labrador; Kyle moved through all three Maritime Provinces; and Laura clipped the outer Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Hurricane season officially runs from June through November when the waters of the Atlantic are warm enough to produce a tropical cyclone, the general category of weather system which includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. Hurricanes typically start to become more of a concern in Canadian waters a bit later in the season; however, the Centre maintains a year-round vigil, monitoring the Atlantic Ocean for any tropical cyclone that may form and threaten Canada or its waters.