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The 1994 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1994, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season was very quiet, with only seven named storms, three hurricanes, and no major hurricanes; the low activity is the result of a strong El Niño that lasted from 1991 to 1994.
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.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm Alberto
- Main article: Tropical Storm Alberto (1994)
Alberto formed from a north-moving tropical depression north of the Yucatán Peninsula 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.
[edit] Tropical Depression Two
Tropical Depression #2 formed from a weather system of nontropical origin. A broad upper trough extended northeast from the Bahamas in mid-July. Thunderstorms increased within this trough to the north of the Bahamas on the 18th. A weak surface low gradually developed a couple hundred miles southeast of South Carolina by the 19th. That night, a tropical depression formed from this low. The depression hit it peak intensity of 1015 mbar and 35 mph (56 km/h) on July 20th. The depression moved north making landfall in South Carolina and dissipated on July 23rd.
Rainfall peaked at 6.84" in Hamlet, NC.[1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Beryl
- Main article: Tropical Storm Beryl (1994)
Beryl formed off the coast of the Florida panhandle on August 15, just twelve hours before landfall near Panama City, Florida. Beryl quickly strengthened before landfall and reached a peak intensity of 60 mph (97 km/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.
[edit] Hurricane Chris
Chris formed midway between the Lesser Antilles 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 the 21st. 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.
[edit] 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 hit its peak intensity of 1005 millibars. Five made landfall in Tampico on the 31st and dissipating the same day over Mexico. Five dropped 2 to 4 inches (100 mm) of rain over Mexico but caused no damage.
[edit] Tropical Storm Debby
- Main article: Tropical Storm Debby (1994)
Tropical Storm Debby formed on September 10, just east of Saint Lucia. The storm crossed the island, and dissipated well south of Puerto Rico 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.
[edit] Tropical Storm Ernesto
Ernesto formed southwest of Cape Verde and reached tropical storm strength on September 22. It moved north for two days, and by the 24th had weakened to a tropical depression. Ernesto dissipated on September 25 having never affected land.
[edit] Tropical Depression Eight
The eighth depression of the season formed with little convection on September 19 in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. 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 millibars.
The depression moved west at six to nine knots on 25th. Just before landfall in Mexico on the 25th, Eight hit its peak intensity of 35 mph and 1004 mbar. The depression made landfall in Mexico and dissipated the next day over Guatemala. Reports show that the remnants of Eight became Tropical Depression Ten.
[edit] Tropical Depression Nine
Tropical Depression Nine started out as a well-defined cloud circulation off of Africa on September 26. The circulation was upgraded to the ninth depression of the 1994 season, 150 nautical miles (280 km) southeast from the Cape Verde Islands the next day. The depression moved northward and lost its convention. The NHC declared Nine dissipated on September 29.
Nine's peak intensity was 30 knots (35 mph) and 1007 mbar.
[edit] 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 150 nautical miles (280 km) off the coast of Cuba. The system became better-organized and when the depression moved into Mexico, it was absorbed by a non-tropical system on 30th. Ten's peak intensity, acquired early on the 30th, was 1004 millibars with 30-knot (56 km/h) winds.
The remnants of the depression dropped heavy rains in Florida, causing $5 million in damage (1994 USD).[2]
[edit] 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 the 4th. 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 the 8th. There was no reported damage.
[edit] Hurricane Gordon
- Main article: Hurricane Gordon (1994)
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 Caribbean 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.
[edit] Other storms
Rainfall totals from the October Subtropical Storm
In addition to the seven named storms, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center identified a subtropical storm in early October that moved across Florida and the southeastern United States. The storm produced heavy rainfall along its path, peaking at over 10 inches (250 mm) in southern South Carolina. However, the storm was not confirmed by the National Hurricane Center.[3] The rainfall in South Carolina caused coastal flooding and flash flooding, with more than 147 houses, 6 government buildings, 36 buildings, and at least 45 cars were flooded. At least 37 roads were washed out or damaged, and more than 3,000 people were left without power after the rains. Damage from the storm exceeded $1 million (1994 USD).[4]
A powerful nor'easter with some subtropical characteristics struck New England on December 23 and 24th. Although the storm was both intense and destructive, bringing hurricane force winds to the Southern New England shoreline, it was never officially classified as a tropical or subtropical system. This storm is sometimes referred to as the Great Christmas Eve Gale of 1994 by coastal Rhode Islanders.[5]
[edit] Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Rating
| ACE (104kt2) – Storm: Source |
| 1 |
10.4 |
Florence |
5 |
1.51 |
Ernesto |
| 2 |
8.35 |
Gordon |
6 |
1.37 |
Debby |
| 3 |
7.50 |
Chris |
7 |
0.825 |
Beryl |
| 4 |
1.57 |
Alberto |
|
|
|
| Total= 31.53 (32) |
The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. The ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed for, so hurricanes that lasted a long time (such as Gordon), as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have higher ACEs.
[edit] Storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1994. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 2000 season. This is the same list used for the 1988 season except for Gordon and Joyce, which replaced Gilbert and Joan. A storm was named Gordon for the first time in 1994. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
|
|
- Helene (unused)
- Isaac (unused)
- Joyce (unused)
- Keith (unused)
- Leslie (unused)
- Michael (unused)
- Nadine (unused)
|
- Oscar (unused)
- Patty (unused)
- Rafael (unused)
- Sandy (unused)
- Tony (unused)
- Valerie (unused)
- William (unused)
|
[edit] Retirement
- See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
The World Meteorological Organization retired no names used in the 1994 season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Tropical cyclones of the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season
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.JPG/150px-Tropical_Storm_Alberto_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Depression_Two_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Storm_Beryl_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Hurricane_Chris_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Depression_Five_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Storm_Debby_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Storm_Ernesto_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Depression_Eight_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Depression_Nine_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Tropical_Depression_Ten_(1994).JPG)
.JPG/150px-Hurricane_Florence_(1994).JPG)
