1994 Atlantic hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Atlantic hurricane season
officially began June 1, 1994, and officially ended November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
s form in the Atlantic basin
.
The 1994 season was very quiet, with only seven named storms, three hurricanes, and no major hurricanes, a hurricane of Category 3 status or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. The low seasonal activity is attributed to the presence of El Niño, which is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. It was one of only 4 Atlantic hurricane seasons without major hurricanes; the others were 1968
, 1972
, and 1986
, but records before 1944 remain incomplete.
Tropical Storms Alberto
and Beryl caused significant flood damage in the Southeast United States. The worst storm of the season, however, was Hurricane Gordon
, which killed 1,145 people, nearly all in Haiti
.
on July 2. Tropical Storm Alberto continued north, making landfall near Destin, Florida
on July 3 as a moderately strong tropical storm. The storm weakened quickly to a tropical depression, which then meandered over Georgia
and Alabama
until it dissipated on July 7.
There were 30 deaths directly attributed to the effects of Tropical Storm Alberto, all from inland flooding. Some of the deaths were reported after the dissipation of the storm's circulation, as Alberto's remnants continued to produce heavy rain. Property damage was estimated at $500 million (1994 USD), most in Georgia.
that extended northeastward from the Bahamas. An area of convection developed near the Bahamas, spawning a low pressure area
on July 19. The next day, the system organized into Tropical Depression Two, after confirmation from the Hurricane Hunters
. Upon developing, the depression was poorly-organized, with most of the thunderstorms located south of the center. On July 20, the circulation became better organized as the convection increased; however, the depression moved ashore near Georgetown, South Carolina
at 1400 UTC
without intensifying beyond winds of 35 miles per hour (55 km/h). As it moved inland, it turned to the north, dissipating on July 21 near Charlotte, North Carolina
. The remnant low continued northeastward across the northeastern United States, becoming unidentifiable on July 22 while entering Nova Scotia.
The depression was never forecast to attain tropical storm status. Officials issued flash flood watches for portions of the southeastern United States. The depression dropped light to moderate precipitation across much of the eastern United States, peaking at 6.84 in (173.7 mm) in Hamlet, North Carolina
. There were no reports of damage or casualties associated with Tropical Depression Two.
on August 15, just twelve hours before landfall near Panama City, Florida
. Beryl quickly strengthened before landfall and reached a peak intensity of 60 mi/h. Beryl caused inland flooding as it moved through Georgia, across the Carolinas, and all the way to Connecticut
where it was absorbed by a frontal system.
Tropical Storm Beryl was a weak system, and unlike Alberto, its rapid motion up the Eastern Seaboard
spread its heavy rainfall across a large area. Property damage was estimated at $73 million (1994 USD), most in South Carolina
. Although there were no deaths caused by Beryl, a large number of people were injured by the 37 tornadoes Beryl produced as it weakened.
and Cape Verde
on August 17, and reached hurricane strength the next day. It travelled generally northwest, then turned north and brushed Bermuda
as a minimal tropical storm on August 21. Chris continued north, then turned northeast and merged with another system.
Hurricane Chris caused no damage, and the only effect to Bermuda was 2.83 in (72 mm) of rain.
. Five dropped 2 to 4 in (50.8 to 101.6 mm) of rain over Mexico but caused no damage.
the next day. Debby's remnants would continue to cause severe weather as they moved over Hispaniola
. Nine people were reported dead. Property damage estimates are not available, but flooding and landslides were severe in Saint Lucia.
on September 18 with an area of organized deep convection. The wave was in a series of strong waves that exited Africa later than the climatological peak of the season. Dvorak classifications
began on September 21, and later that day the system developed into Tropical Depression Seven about 500 miles (806 km) southwest of Cape Verde
. Wind shear was marginally favorable for development, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Ernesto on September 22. The next morning, the storm attained its peak intensity, with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum atmospheric pressure
of 997 mbar
(hPa
; 29.53 inHg
).
After peaking, Ernesto entered an area of increasing wind shear
and stronger upper-tropospheric flow, resulting in a steady weakening trend. After most of the convection diminished over the center, the storm weakened to a tropical depression on September 24. Subsequently, it decelerated and turned to a west-northwest drift. The last public advisory was issued on Tropical Depression Ernesto at 2100 UTC September 25, although it did not dissipate until early the next day, about 450 miles (725 km) west of Cape Verde. The remnants continued generally westward, occasionally redeveloping deep convection but never regenerating into a tropical cyclone. The remnants were no longer identifiable as of September 29.
. The area of convection lasted for several days moving from northwestern direction to the northeastern. The wave was estimated to have strengthened into Tropical Depression Eight on September 24 near the coast of Honduras. An Air Force aircraft found the depression with a poorly-organized circulation and a pressure of 1007 mbar (29.7 inHg).
The depression moved west at 7 to 10 mph (11.3 to 16.1 km/h) on September 25. Just before landfall in Belize
on September 25, Eight hit its peak intensity of 35 mph (55 km/h) and 1004 mbar (29.6 inHg). The depression made landfall in Mexico and dissipated the next day over Guatemala
. Reports show that the remnants of Eight became Tropical Depression Ten.
the next day at 1200 UTC when banding cloud patterns became evident on satellite imagery. The depression moved toward the north-northwest at 12 mph (19.3 km/h) or less, reaching peak intensity early on September 28, around 0600 UTC, but the LLCC became exposed and the depression lost much of its deep convection later that day. The NHC declared Nine dissipated early on September 29, near Sal in the Cape Verde Islands.
The remnants of the depression dropped heavy rains in Florida, causing $5 million in damage (1994 USD).
and into Florida
. Although Gordon was only a tropical storm for most of its long existence, it caused enormous damage. A United Nations
estimate of the death toll in Haiti was 1,122. There were six deaths reported in Costa Rica
, five in the Dominican Republic
, two in Jamaica
, two in Cuba
, and eight in Florida
. Despite the death toll, the World Meteorological Organization
did not retire the name, issuing an official statement crediting Jamaica and Cuba's warning infrastructure for the low loss of life there, and blaming Haiti's lack of such a system for the large number of deaths there.
Property damage in the United States was estimated at $400 million (1994 US dollars). Property damage statistics for other affected areas are not available, but were reportedly severe in both Haiti and Cuba.
The table on the right shows the Accumulated Cyclone Energy
(ACE) for each storm in the season. ACE is an approximation of the energy used by a tropical system throughout its existence. As such, storms that persist for long durations, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACE ratings. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. The highest ever ACE estimated for a single storm in the Atlantic is 73.6, for Hurricane San Ciriaco in 1899
. This single storm had an ACE higher than many whole Atlantic storm seasons, like this one.
The storm with the highest ACE rating of the 1994 season was Hurricane Florence, with a total of 10.4. Gordon was the second-highest, with an ACE of 8.35. Only one storm, Beryl, ranked less than one, with a rating of 0.825. Overall, the season is estimated to have produced an Accumulated Cyclone Energy of 31.53.
1994 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1994 Atlantic hurricane seasonofficially began June 1, 1994, and officially ended November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
officially began June 1, 1994, and officially ended November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclone
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 1994 season was very quiet, with only seven named storms, three hurricanes, and no major hurricanes, a hurricane of Category 3 status or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. The low seasonal activity is attributed to the presence of El Niño, which is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. It was one of only 4 Atlantic hurricane seasons without major hurricanes; the others were 1968
1968 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1968 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1968, and lasted until November 30, 1968. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
, 1972
1972 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1972 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1972, and lasted until November 30, 1972. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. A strong El Niño kept hurricane activity at a minimum, and in fact the season...
, and 1986
1986 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1986 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1986, and lasted until November 30, 1986. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
, but records before 1944 remain incomplete.
Tropical Storms Alberto
Tropical Storm Alberto (1994)
Tropical Storm Alberto was the first storm of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. It hit Florida across the Southeast United States in July, causing a massive flooding disaster while stalling over Georgia and Alabama. Alberto caused $1 billion in damage and 30 deaths.-Meteorological history:A...
and Beryl caused significant flood damage in the Southeast United States. The worst storm of the season, however, was Hurricane Gordon
Hurricane Gordon (1994)
Hurricane Gordon was a long-lived and erratic late-season hurricane of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. The twelfth and final tropical cyclone of the season, Gordon formed in the southwestern Caribbean on November 8 after two tropical waves enhanced convection around in area of disturbed...
, which killed 1,145 people, nearly all 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 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... |
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Tropical Storm Alberto
Alberto formed from a north-moving tropical depression north of the Yucatán PeninsulaYucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
on July 2. Tropical Storm Alberto continued north, making landfall near Destin, Florida
Destin, Florida
Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters...
on July 3 as a moderately strong tropical storm. The storm weakened quickly to a tropical depression, which then meandered over Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
until it dissipated on July 7.
There were 30 deaths directly attributed to the effects of Tropical Storm Alberto, all from inland flooding. Some of the deaths were reported after the dissipation of the storm's circulation, as Alberto's remnants continued to produce heavy rain. Property damage was estimated at $500 million (1994 USD), most in Georgia.
Tropical Depression Two
The origins of the depression were from a broad upper-level troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
that extended northeastward from the Bahamas. An area of convection developed near the Bahamas, spawning a low pressure area
Low pressure area
A low-pressure area, or "low", is a region where the atmospheric pressure at sea level is below that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as...
on July 19. The next day, the system organized into Tropical Depression Two, after confirmation from the Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
. Upon developing, the depression was poorly-organized, with most of the thunderstorms located south of the center. On July 20, the circulation became better organized as the convection increased; however, the depression moved ashore near Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
at 1400 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
without intensifying beyond winds of 35 miles per hour (55 km/h). As it moved inland, it turned to the north, dissipating on July 21 near Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The remnant low continued northeastward across the northeastern United States, becoming unidentifiable on July 22 while entering Nova Scotia.
The depression was never forecast to attain tropical storm status. Officials issued flash flood watches for portions of the southeastern United States. The depression dropped light to moderate precipitation across much of the eastern United States, peaking at 6.84 in (173.7 mm) in Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet is a town in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamlet is located at ....
. There were no reports of damage or casualties associated with Tropical Depression Two.
Tropical Storm Beryl
Beryl formed off the coast of the Florida panhandleFlorida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
on August 15, just twelve hours before landfall near Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
. Beryl quickly strengthened before landfall and reached a peak intensity of 60 mi/h. Beryl caused inland flooding as it moved through Georgia, across the Carolinas, and all the way to Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
where it was absorbed by a frontal system.
Tropical Storm Beryl was a weak system, and unlike Alberto, its rapid motion up the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
spread its heavy rainfall across a large area. Property damage was estimated at $73 million (1994 USD), most in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Although there were no deaths caused by Beryl, a large number of people were injured by the 37 tornadoes Beryl produced as it weakened.
Hurricane Chris
Chris formed midway between the Lesser AntillesLesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
and Cape Verde
Cape 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 17, and reached hurricane strength the next day. It travelled generally northwest, then turned north and brushed Bermuda
Bermuda
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...
as a minimal tropical storm on August 21. Chris continued north, then turned northeast and merged with another system.
Hurricane Chris caused no damage, and the only effect to Bermuda was 2.83 in (72 mm) of rain.
Tropical Depression Five
The wave that would become Tropical Depression Five was tracked beginning on August 17. The wave wouldn't get anymore convection until August 26. A reconnaissance airplane was released which found lower pressure and a well-defined mid-level circulation. The wave was upgraded into a depression on August 29 near the Yucatan Peninsula. The next day, Five attained its peak intensity of 1005 mbar (29.7 inHg). Five made landfall in Tampico on August 31 and dissipating the same day over MexicoMexico
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...
. Five dropped 2 to 4 in (50.8 to 101.6 mm) of rain over Mexico but caused no damage.
Tropical Storm Debby
Tropical Storm Debby formed on September 10, just east of the lesser antilies. The storm crossed the islands, and dissipated well south of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
the next day. Debby's remnants would continue to cause severe weather as they moved over Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. Nine people were reported dead. Property damage estimates are not available, but flooding and landslides were severe in Saint Lucia.
Tropical Storm Ernesto
A tropical wave exited AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
on September 18 with an area of organized deep convection. The wave was in a series of strong waves that exited Africa later than the climatological peak of the season. Dvorak classifications
Dvorak technique
The Dvorak technique is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak intensity numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity...
began on September 21, and later that day the system developed into Tropical Depression Seven about 500 miles (806 km) southwest of Cape Verde
Cape 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...
. Wind shear was marginally favorable for development, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Ernesto on September 22. The next morning, the storm attained its peak intensity, with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
of 997 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
(hPa
Pascal (unit)
The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure, internal pressure, stress, Young's modulus and tensile strength, named after the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is a measure of force per unit area, defined as one newton per square metre...
; 29.53 inHg
Inch of mercury
Inches of mercury, ' is a unit of measurement for pressure. It is still widely used for barometric pressure in weather reports, refrigeration and aviation in the United States, but is seldom used elsewhere....
).
After peaking, Ernesto entered an area of increasing wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
and stronger upper-tropospheric flow, resulting in a steady weakening trend. After most of the convection diminished over the center, the storm weakened to a tropical depression on September 24. Subsequently, it decelerated and turned to a west-northwest drift. The last public advisory was issued on Tropical Depression Ernesto at 2100 UTC September 25, although it did not dissipate until early the next day, about 450 miles (725 km) west of Cape Verde. The remnants continued generally westward, occasionally redeveloping deep convection but never regenerating into a tropical cyclone. The remnants were no longer identifiable as of September 29.
Tropical Depression Eight
The eighth depression of the season formed with little convection on September 19 in the southwestern 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....
. The area of convection lasted for several days moving from northwestern direction to the northeastern. The wave was estimated to have strengthened into Tropical Depression Eight on September 24 near the coast of Honduras. An Air Force aircraft found the depression with a poorly-organized circulation and a pressure of 1007 mbar (29.7 inHg).
The depression moved west at 7 to 10 mph (11.3 to 16.1 km/h) on September 25. Just before landfall in 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 25, Eight hit its peak intensity of 35 mph (55 km/h) and 1004 mbar (29.6 inHg). The depression made landfall in Mexico and dissipated the next day over Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. Reports show that the remnants of Eight became Tropical Depression Ten.
Tropical Depression Nine
Tropical Depression Nine started out as a well-defined cloud circulation that moved off the coast of Africa on September 26. The circulation was upgraded to the ninth depression of the 1994 season, 174 miles (280 km) southeast 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...
the next day at 1200 UTC when banding cloud patterns became evident on satellite imagery. The depression moved toward the north-northwest at 12 mph (19.3 km/h) or less, reaching peak intensity early on September 28, around 0600 UTC, but the LLCC became exposed and the depression lost much of its deep convection later that day. The NHC declared Nine dissipated early on September 29, near Sal in the Cape Verde Islands.
Tropical Depression Ten
An area of disturbed weather, related to Tropical Depression Eight, persisted for several days over the northwest Caribbean Sea and the Yucatan Peninsula. A tropical wave moved into the area, causing an increase in showers and cloudiness. Pressures began dropping and the NHC estimated that the wave became Tropical Depression Ten on September 29 about 174 miles (280 km) off the coast of Cuba. The system became better-organized and when the depression moved into the Gulf of Mexico, it was absorbed by a non-tropical system on September 30. Ten's peak intensity, acquired early on September 30, was 1004 mbar (29.6 inHg) with 35 mph (55 km/h) winds.The remnants of the depression dropped heavy rains in Florida, causing $5 million in damage (1994 USD).
Hurricane Florence
Florence initially formed as a subtropical depression in the central Atlantic on November 2. As it moved generally northwest, it took on tropical characteristics and was classified as Tropical Storm Florence on November 4. It reached hurricane strength, then turned sharply to the northeast and accelerated on November 6, as it was picked up by a strong trough. Florence was absorbed by a cold front on November 8. There was no reported damage.Hurricane Gordon
Hurricane Gordon was a long-lived system that remained a tropical storm for most of its existence and followed a winding, atypical track through the western CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and into Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Although Gordon was only a tropical storm for most of its long existence, it caused enormous damage. A United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
estimate of the death toll in Haiti was 1,122. There were six deaths reported in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, five 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...
, two in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, two in 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...
, and eight in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Despite the death toll, the World Meteorological Organization
World 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...
did not retire the name, issuing an official statement crediting Jamaica and Cuba's warning infrastructure for the low loss of life there, and blaming Haiti's lack of such a system for the large number of deaths there.
Property damage in the United States was estimated at $400 million (1994 US dollars). Property damage statistics for other affected areas are not available, but were reportedly severe in both Haiti and Cuba.
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Rating
| ACE (104kt2) – Storm: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.4 | Florence Hurricane Florence (1994) Hurricane Florence was a strong, late season hurricane that remained out over the open waters of the Central Atlantic for nearly a week, before being absorbed into a large extratropical cyclone. With peak winds of 110 mph and a minimum pressure of 972 mbar , Florence was the strongest... |
5 | 1.51 | Ernesto |
| 2 | 8.35 | Gordon Hurricane Gordon (1994) Hurricane Gordon was a long-lived and erratic late-season hurricane of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. The twelfth and final tropical cyclone of the season, Gordon formed in the southwestern Caribbean on November 8 after two tropical waves enhanced convection around in area of disturbed... |
6 | 1.37 | Debby Tropical Storm Debby (1994) Tropical Storm Debby, was the fourth named storm of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. Debby lasted only two days, reaching peak winds of 70 mph before being sheared apart on September 11... |
| 3 | 7.50 | Chris | 7 | 0.825 | Beryl Tropical Storm Beryl (1994) Tropical Storm Beryl, was the second named storm of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. Beryl originated north of Puerto Rico as an upper-level low pressure system, then passed over Florida, then entered the gulf where it became a tropical depression. The storm had advisories on it for five days;... |
| 4 | 1.57 | Alberto Tropical Storm Alberto (1994) Tropical Storm Alberto was the first storm of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season. It hit Florida across the Southeast United States in July, causing a massive flooding disaster while stalling over Georgia and Alabama. Alberto caused $1 billion in damage and 30 deaths.-Meteorological history:A... |
|||
| Total= 31.53 (32) | |||||
The table on the right shows the Accumulated Cyclone Energy
Accumulated 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) for each storm in the season. ACE is an approximation of the energy used by a tropical system throughout its existence. As such, storms that persist for long durations, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACE ratings. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. The highest ever ACE estimated for a single storm in the Atlantic is 73.6, for Hurricane San Ciriaco in 1899
1899 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1899 Atlantic hurricane season ran through the summer and the first half of fall in 1899. The season was average, with 9 tropical storms, of which 5 became hurricanes and only two became major hurricanes....
. This single storm had an ACE higher than many whole Atlantic storm seasons, like this one.
The storm with the highest ACE rating of the 1994 season was Hurricane Florence, with a total of 10.4. Gordon was the second-highest, with an ACE of 8.35. Only one storm, Beryl, ranked less than one, with a rating of 0.825. Overall, the season is estimated to have produced an Accumulated Cyclone Energy of 31.53.
Season effects
This is a table of the storms in 1994 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
- 1994 Pacific hurricane season1994 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1994 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean...
- 1994 Pacific typhoon season1994 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 1994 Pacific typhoon season was an active season in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the Western North Pacific, with a total of 41 tropical cyclones during the course of the season. The season had no official bounds and it ran year-round in 1994, but most tropical cyclones tend...
- 1994 North Indian Ocean cyclone season1994 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 1994 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: 1993–94, 1994–95
External links
- Monthly Weather Review
- [ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/atlantic/prelimat/atl1994 Detailed information on all storms from 1994]
- WMO statement: "Early warning saves grief and money"