| Category 5 hurricane (SSHS) | |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Emilia near peak intensity on July 19 | |
| Formed | July 16, 1994 |
| Dissipated | July 25, 1994 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 160 mph (260 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 926 mbar (hPa; 27.34 inHg) |
| Fatalities | None direct |
| Damage | None |
| Areas affected | Hawai’i |
| Part of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season | |
Hurricane Emilia was the fifth tropical cyclone, second Pacific hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It was the third most intense tropical cyclone in the central Pacific Ocean, attaining a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar (27.34 inHg) on July 19—only Gilma and Ioke reached lower pressures in the basin. It organized to a tropical depression on July 16, quickly attaining tropical storm intensity. It moved west-northwest under a ridge, strengthening to a hurricane on July 17. Subsequently, Emilia underwent rapid deepening, increasing to a powerful Category 5 hurricane on July 19. In response to an upper-level trough, Emilia turned northwest on July 21 and encountered wind shear. The cyclone turned westward and rapidly weakened, dissipating late on July 24.
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On July 14, an area of low pressure was detected in the Intertropical Convergence Zone 2,110 miles (3,400 km) east-southeast of the Hawai’ian chain.[1] It was traced to a tropical wave that left the African coast on June 29.[1] A low-level circulation was present, and a tropical depression is believed to have formed on July 17 due to increasing organization.[1] Later, satellite imagery suggested that the system had intensified to Tropical Storm Emilia with 40 mph (65 km/h) sustained winds.[1][2] Emilia steadily strengthened to a minimal hurricane, moving west-northwest.[2] It crossed 140°W and entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, which noted that Emilia was "well developed."[3] Emilia attained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), which marked the beginning of a rapid intensification period.[2][3] Maximum sustained winds increased from 115 mph (185 km/h) on July 17 to 160 mph (260 km/h) late on July 19, which was a period of 42 hours.[3] At the time, an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft measured a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar (27.34 inHg).[4] Although the Central Pacific Hurricane Center lists Emilia as a Category 5 cyclone, the National Hurricane Center classified Emilia as a strong Category 4 hurricane with 155 mph (250 km/h) sustained winds.[2] However, in 2008, the storm was upgraded to a category 5 hurricane for 6 hours.[2]
On July 20, Emilia briefly weakened to a Category 4 hurricane for 12 hours, but it re-intensified to Category 5 status during the day.[3] Later, Emilia began to weaken for the final time. An upper-level trough in the westerlies caused the cyclone to turned northwest on July 21, and the threat to Hawai’i increased.[3][4] Emilia moved over progressively cooler waters, and vertical wind shear from the westerlies negatively impacted the hurricane.[3] The central pressure steadily rose to 965 mbar (28.50 inHg), and Emilia diminished to a marginal Category 3 hurricane.[3] On July 22, Emilia continued to weaken, and it passed within 150 nmi (170 miles) of the Big Island.[4] It was the closest approach to the islands.[4] Later, the peak winds dropped to 75 mph (120 km/h).[3] Emilia gradually turned west-northwest, and the circulation moved with the trade winds.[4] Emilia weakened to a tropical depression on July 24,[3] and a remnant swirl of stratocumulus clouds was noted.[4] The system dissipated on the same day.[3]
Emilia was a Category 5 hurricane for 18 hours, the most ever at the time. That record was broken later in the season by Hurricane John.[5]
Initially, forecasts significantly underestimated the intensification of Emilia,[1] which was one of three tropical cyclones to attain Category 5 status in the central Pacific during the season.[3] On July 16, a 72-hour forecast misjudged the strengthening of Emilia by 41 m/s (92 mph).[1] Later, winds at 72 hours were 31 m/s (69 mph) too high when the cyclone began to weaken.[1] Models consistently predicted Emilia to remain south of the Hawaiian Islands because of the upper troughs' climatologically weak nature during the summer.[6] This led to high confidence in the forecasts,[7] resulting in a lack of watches or warnings.[3]
Emilia passed south of the Hawaiian Islands, producing swells of 6–10 feet (2–3.3 m) near the Puna and Ka‘ū coasts.[8] Surf was lower along the Kona and Kohala coasts. Winds were gusty, causing a few trees to be blown over and branches to be broken. Some minor roof damage was caused by the winds. Rainfall ranged from light to moderate. All in all, Hurricane Emilia had mostly minor effects in the Hawaiian Islands.[3]
Emilia was the subject of a disagreement between the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and the National Hurricane Center. Specifically, they debated Emilia's peak strength in relation to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The CPHC reported that Emilia's maximum winds peaked at 140 knots (260 km/h), making it a Category 5 hurricane.[3] However, the NHC considered Emilia to be a high-end Category 4 with maximum winds of 135 knots (250 km/h), in both its "best track"[9] and its preliminary report.[10] During 2008, the NHC upgraded its "best track" to make Emilia a Category 5, although there continues to be a discrepancy in Emilia's duration at Category 5 intensity.[2][3]
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