1993 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a period in the annual formation of tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 1, 1993, and lasted until November 30, 1993. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
. The season
experienced relatively low activity, with eight named storms, four becoming hurricanes; the low activity is the result of a strong El Niño that lasted from 1991 to 1994.
Tropical Storm Bret
caused 184 deaths when it tracked across northern Venezuela
in early August. Hurricane Gert
caused significant damage to Mexico
after tracking across Central America, killing 76. Hurricane Emily
, the strongest storm of the season, caused light damage to the Outer Banks
but never made landfall.
(ACE) rating of 39. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
and quickly made landfall on Cuba
later that day. After passing through the Bahamas on June 1, it became difficult for the National Hurricane Center
to locate the low-level circulation, and Tropical Depression One transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on the following day. Seven people were reported dead in Cuba from heavy rains associated with the tropical depression, while another 13 fatalities occurred in Haiti
.
was detected in the Caribbean Sea
over Central America
on June 9. The system moved westward, bringing heavy rains in El Salvador
before moving to the northwest. Moderately favorable conditions allowed the wave to organize into a tropical depression in the eastern Bay of Campeche
on June 18. The system moved northwest and reached tropical storm strength on the June 19. Landfall occurred on June 20 on Padre Island
, and the system dissipated the next day. Arlene caused six casualties and $55 million (1993 USD, $ USD) in damage from its heavy flooding and beach erosion. In addition, the precursor tropical wave killed 20 people in El Salvador.
on August 4, a latitude it would stay at for most of its duration. The storm tracked westward over Trinidad
and a small portion of the Venezuelan coast on the August 7, and then back over the Caribbean Sea
. The next day, Bret again crossed into Venezuela
, and traveled into Colombia
. It weakened over the mountainous terrain, and after becoming a tropical depression over the Caribbean, Bret hit southern Nicaragua
on the August 10 with 45 mph (72 km/h) winds. It crossed into the eastern Pacific and dissipated, although it later reformed into Hurricane Greg. 184 people were killed from Bret, mostly in Venezuela, with heavy damage reported.
on August 14. The storm travelled west-northwest until its second landfall near Barahona
in the Dominican Republic
on August 16. It dissipated the next day. Heavy rainfall killed two in Martinique and two in the Dominican Republic. Specific damage estimates are not available.
. Hurricane Emily approached within 25 miles (40 km) of Hatteras Island
on August 31 as a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Emily then turned back out to sea, and on September 6 became extratropical and dissipated.
Three drowning deaths were reported along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia
. Property damage was isolated to the barrier islands, and was estimated at $35 million (1993 USD, $ USD).
. Hurricane Floyd's motion began to become more eastward, and it started to lose its tropical characteristics. On September 10, Floyd was classified as a powerful extratropical storm. On September 12, Floyd's lowest barometric reading of 966 millibars was taken. The storm reached Brittany
on the September 13 as an extratropical storm with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds.
No reports of damage were received by the National Hurricane Center.
on September 14, about 105 miles (169 km) north of Panama
. The depression travelled west-northwest and was upgraded to a tropical storm on the September 15, just before landfall near Bluefields
, Nicaragua
. Gert weakened back to a tropical depression, travelled across Nicaragua and Honduras
, and emerged briefly over water where it regained tropical storm strength. It hit Belize
on September 18, crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
, and emerged into the Bay of Campeche
later that day. Over open water for the first time since it formed, Gert strengthened rapidly, reaching Category 2 strength just before landfall near Tuxpan
on September 20. Gert dissipated on the September 21, having caused over $166 million in damage (1993 USD, $ USD) and killing 76 people.
. It tracked northeast, and strengthened first to a tropical storm, then a hurricane. Harvey quickly weakened, and shortly after being declared extratropical on September 21, the remnants were absorbed by a front.
. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1999 season
. Names that were not assigned are marked in .
retired no names used in the 1993 season.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s form in the Atlantic basin
Atlantic Basin
The Atlantic Basin is the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Basin may also refer to:* Atlantic Basin Iron Works, an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century...
. The season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
experienced relatively low activity, with eight named storms, four becoming hurricanes; the low activity is the result of a strong El Niño that lasted from 1991 to 1994.
Tropical Storm Bret
Tropical Storm Bret (1993)
Tropical Storm Bret was the second named storm of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season. The third tropical cyclone of the season, Bret formed on August 4 from a westward moving, African tropical wave. Bret would later peak as a 60 mph tropical storm as it neared Trinidad...
caused 184 deaths when it tracked across northern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in early August. Hurricane Gert
Hurricane Gert (1993)
Hurricane Gert was a large tropical cyclone that caused heavy flood damage and many deaths throughout Central America and Mexico in September 1993. The seventh named storm and third hurricane of the annual hurricane season, Gert originated from a tropical wave over the southwestern Caribbean...
caused significant damage to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
after tracking across Central America, killing 76. Hurricane Emily
Hurricane Emily (1993)
Hurricane Emily was a Category 3 hurricane during the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season. On September 1, the storm brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina before heading back out to sea...
, the strongest storm of the season, caused light damage to the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
but never made landfall.
Season summary
The season's activity was reflected with a low cumulative accumulated cyclone energyAccumulated cyclone energy
Accumulated cyclone energy is a measure used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to express the activity of individual tropical cyclones and entire tropical cyclone seasons, particularly the North Atlantic hurricane season. It uses an approximation of the energy used by a...
(ACE) rating of 39. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.
Tropical Depression One
The first tropical depression of the season developed a day before the official season, on May 31. Developing from the interaction between a tropical wave and a monsoon-type circulation, Tropical Depression One brushed the Isle of YouthIsle of Youth
Isla de la Juventud is the second-largest Cuban island and the seventh-largest island in the West Indies . The island has an area and is 100 km south of the island of Cuba, across the Gulf of Batabanó...
and quickly made landfall on Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
later that day. After passing through the Bahamas on June 1, it became difficult for the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
to locate the low-level circulation, and Tropical Depression One transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on the following day. Seven people were reported dead in Cuba from heavy rains associated with the tropical depression, while another 13 fatalities occurred in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
Tropical Storm Arlene
A tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
was detected in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
over Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
on June 9. The system moved westward, bringing heavy rains in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
before moving to the northwest. Moderately favorable conditions allowed the wave to organize into a tropical depression in the eastern Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
on June 18. The system moved northwest and reached tropical storm strength on the June 19. Landfall occurred on June 20 on Padre Island
Padre Island
Padre Island is part of the U.S. state of Texas. The island is located on Texas' southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for its white sandy beaches at the south end...
, and the system dissipated the next day. Arlene caused six casualties and $55 million (1993 USD, $ USD) in damage from its heavy flooding and beach erosion. In addition, the precursor tropical wave killed 20 people in El Salvador.
Tropical Storm Bret
Bret formed along 10°N about 1,150 miles (1,850 km) west of Cape VerdeCape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
on August 4, a latitude it would stay at for most of its duration. The storm tracked westward over Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
and a small portion of the Venezuelan coast on the August 7, and then back over the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. The next day, Bret again crossed into Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and traveled into Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It weakened over the mountainous terrain, and after becoming a tropical depression over the Caribbean, Bret hit southern Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
on the August 10 with 45 mph (72 km/h) winds. It crossed into the eastern Pacific and dissipated, although it later reformed into Hurricane Greg. 184 people were killed from Bret, mostly in Venezuela, with heavy damage reported.
Tropical Storm Cindy
Cindy became a named storm as a tropical depression crossed MartiniqueMartinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
on August 14. The storm travelled west-northwest until its second landfall near Barahona
Barahona
Barahona is a province of the Dominican Republic.The Barahona Coast is located on the southwestern part of the Dominican Republic approximately three hours drive from Santo Domingo the capital of the Dominican Republic....
in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
on August 16. It dissipated the next day. Heavy rainfall killed two in Martinique and two in the Dominican Republic. Specific damage estimates are not available.
Tropical Storm Dennis
A tropical wave rapidly developed into the fifth tropical depression of the season on August 23. About twenty-four hours after formation, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis, while still situated in the far eastern Atlantic. Dennis tracked northwestward and eventually weakened back to a tropical depression on August 27. After weakened, Dennis began to curve westward, and dissipated on the August 28. Tropical Storm Dennis never affected land and no damage was reported.Hurricane Emily
Emily formed on August 22 as a tropical depression and moved northwest, eventually coming to a standstill 1,000 miles (1,600 km) east of Florida. The storm initially moved southwest, but its track curved northward, sending it toward North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Hurricane Emily approached within 25 miles (40 km) of Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island is a barrier island located off the North Carolina coast. Dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound, it runs parallel to the coast, forming a bend at Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks and includes the towns of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,...
on August 31 as a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Emily then turned back out to sea, and on September 6 became extratropical and dissipated.
Three drowning deaths were reported along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Property damage was isolated to the barrier islands, and was estimated at $35 million (1993 USD, $ USD).
Hurricane Floyd
Floyd formed midway between Bermuda and Hispaniola on September 7. It headed north while staying well west of Bermuda, and then took a northeastward track. A poorly organized tropical storm, Floyd did not reach hurricane strength until late on the September 9 while southeast of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Hurricane Floyd's motion began to become more eastward, and it started to lose its tropical characteristics. On September 10, Floyd was classified as a powerful extratropical storm. On September 12, Floyd's lowest barometric reading of 966 millibars was taken. The storm reached Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
on the September 13 as an extratropical storm with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds.
No reports of damage were received by the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Gert
Gert formed as a tropical depression in the extreme southwest Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
on September 14, about 105 miles (169 km) north of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. The depression travelled west-northwest and was upgraded to a tropical storm on the September 15, just before landfall near Bluefields
Bluefields
Bluefields is the capital of the municipality of the same name, and of Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur in Nicaragua. It was also capital of the former Zelaya Department, which was divided into North and South Atlantic Autonomous Regions...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Gert weakened back to a tropical depression, travelled across Nicaragua and Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, and emerged briefly over water where it regained tropical storm strength. It hit Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
on September 18, crossed the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, and emerged into the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
later that day. Over open water for the first time since it formed, Gert strengthened rapidly, reaching Category 2 strength just before landfall near Tuxpan
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
on September 20. Gert dissipated on the September 21, having caused over $166 million in damage (1993 USD, $ USD) and killing 76 people.
Hurricane Harvey
The depression that would become Harvey formed on September 18 about 400 miles (640 km) south-southeast of BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. It tracked northeast, and strengthened first to a tropical storm, then a hurricane. Harvey quickly weakened, and shortly after being declared extratropical on September 21, the remnants were absorbed by a front.
Tropical Depression Ten
A wind current strengthened into the tenth and final tropical depression of the season southeast of Bermuda on September 29, although operationally classified as such early on September 30. The depression interacted with an approaching cold front, and accelerated north-northeast as a result. It did not strengthen as predicted, and ended up merging with the cold front on the morning of October 1, although the final advisory was issued late on September 30. Despite passing very close to Bermuda, no effects were reported on the island in association with Tropical Depression Ten.Storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1993. This is the same list used for the 1987 season1987 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1987 Atlantic hurricane season was a below-average hurricane season that was limited by an ongoing El Niño. The season officially began on June 1, 1987, and lasted until November 30, 1987, although activity began on May 25 when a tropical depression developed in the east central...
. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1999 season
1999 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1999 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1999, and lasted until November 30, 1999. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
. Names that were not assigned are marked in .
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Retirement
The World Meteorological OrganizationWorld Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
retired no names used in the 1993 season.
Season effects
This is a table of the storms in 1993 and their landfall(s), if any. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but are still storm-related. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical or a wave or low.See also
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- 1993 Pacific hurricane season1993 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1993 Pacific hurricane season was a very active season that officially started May 15, 1993 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1993 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1993...
- 1993 Pacific typhoon season1993 Pacific typhoon seasonOn July 29, PAGASA initiated advisories on a poorly organised tropical depression. The depression moved slowly towards the north-west before it dissipated during the next day.-Typhoon Robyn :...
- 1993 North Indian Ocean cyclone season1993 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 1993 North Indian Ocean cyclone season was the period in which tropical cyclones formed within the north Indian ocean. The season has no official bounds but cyclones tend to form within this basin between April and December. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean — the Bay of...
- Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1992–93, 1993–94
External links
- Monthly Weather Review
- [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/prelimat/atl1993/ Detailed information on all storms from 1993]
- U.S. Rainfall information for tropical cyclones from 1993
- Weather Channel retrospective on 1993 Atlantic hurricane season