1994 Pacific hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 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. The first tropical cyclone
formed on June 18, while the last system dissipated on October 26. This season, twenty-two tropical cyclones formed in the north Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, with all but two becoming tropical storms or hurricanes. This was the final season of the eastern north Pacific's most recent active string of hurricane seasons.
Of note in this season is an unusual spree of very intense storms. Hurricanes Emilia
, Gilma
, John
, and Olivia all reached a pressure below 930 millibars. Longevity-wise, no tropical cyclone of any basin had previously persisted for as long as Hurricane John. Elsewhere, Hurricane Rosa
caused several casualties in Mexico as the basin's lone landfalling tropical storm or hurricane.
to North America), nineteen tropical depressions formed, of which seventeen became tropical storms, nine became hurricanes, and five became major hurricanes of Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir Simpson Scale
. These numbers are the long-term averages of fifteen tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.
In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
's area of responsibility
(140°W
to the International Date Line
), three depressions, two tropical storms, and one hurricane formed. Over all, there were eleven tropical cyclones, eight tropical storms, five hurricanes, and three major hurricanes that formed or entered the central Pacific. These numbers are well above the long-term average of four tropical cyclones, two hurricanes, one tropical storm, and two depressions. The extremely high activity was contributed to by an El Niño ongoing at the time.
The only named storm to make landfall this year was Hurricane Rosa
, which killed several people in Mexico. Other notable storms include Hurricane Olivia, which is one of the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record, the three Category 5 hurricanes Emilia
, Gilma
, and John
, and Hurricane Li, which existed in all three basins (East, Central, and West) of the Pacific Ocean.
This season is the end of the eastern north Pacific's most recent active period. That period, which began in 1980, and includes the five most active Pacific hurricane seasons, ended with this season. Starting in 1995, multi-decadal factors switched to a phase that suppresses Pacific hurricane activity. Since then, Pacific hurricane activity has been largely inactive.
. The only other time that happened was in 2002
. Two systems, Hurricanes Li and John, crossed through all three Pacific Ocean basins; this season is the only one to have more than one tropical cyclone do that. Hurricane John was the longest lasting and most continuous tropical cyclone on Earth in recorded history. Eleven tropical cyclones entered or formed in the central Pacific, a record shared with the 1992 season
. Finally, of the four most intense hurricanes on record in the central Pacific, three of them occurred this season.
began to weaken the storm thereafter. The weakening trend continued, weakening Aletta to a depression on June 21. The system dissipated June 23. Aletta's remnant low, however, could be tracked on satellite images for days following the storm. The low finally dissipated north of Hawaii. Aletta never affected land, and no damage or casualties were reported.
. The depression headed west-northwest, gradually turned to the northwest, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Bud on June 27. Early the next day, Bud peaked in intensity. Shear
caused by a nearby upper level low
slowly weakened Bud. Later on June 28, a second center of circulation developed. The two centers started a Fujiwhara interaction. The second center then became dominant and the first one vanished. This confused structure is similar to what happened to 1993's Tropical Storm Arlene
. This confused structure also weakened Bud to a tropical depression on the afternoon of the same day the second center formed. Bud then headed westward over cool waters and dissipated on June 29. Tropical Storm Bud spent its entire life over the open ocean far from land areas. No casualties or damage was reported.
became visible. Because of this, the NHC
upgraded the storm to a hurricane. Carlotta peaked in intensity on July 1, as a 105 mi/h hurricane. It gradually weakened as it moved into cooler waters, dissipating on July 5. Carlotta did not threaten land.
Carlotta buffeted Socorro Island
with sustained winds of 39 mph (62.8 km/h) on June 30. Other than there, Carlotta caused no damage or deaths.
developed a circulation and became Tropical Depression Four-E. Convection
increased, and the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Daniel. Upper-level outflow
improved, and Daniel peaked in intensity on July 9. Daniel slowly declined as it continued westward. It entered the central Pacific on July 11. Wind shear
weakened Daniel as it approached the Big Island
, and by July 15 had degenerated into an open wave.
When Daniel was approaching Hawaii, moderate surf of 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) impacted the south and southeast shores of the Big Island on July 13 and 14. Daniel's remnants also passed about 100 miles (160.9 km) south of South Point, Hawaii on July 15. That day, they caused rainfall on windward slopes of the Big Island locally reaching 5 inches (127 mm). No reports of damage or casualties were received.
associated with a tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Five-E. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Emilia later that day. It moved west-northwest and strengthened into a hurricane. It entered the central Pacific on July 17. It continued intensifying, reaching Category 5 intensity on July 19, the first Category 5 Pacific hurricane since Ava
. Emilia started weakening quickly on July 21. It weakened to a tropical storm on July 23 and dissipated two days later.
Emilia passed south of the Hawai’ian Islands, producing swells of 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m) in height near the Puna
and Ka‘ū coasts. Winds caused minor damage, and rain was moderate. No one was killed.
Fabio's remnants brought locally heavy rainfall to Hawaii, reaching 3 to 4 in (76.2 to 101.6 mm). No one was killed and there was no damage.
organized into a tropical depression on July 21. It headed westward and out to sea, strengthening into a tropical storm the next day. Gilma rapidly strengthened and became a hurricane exactly one day after it was named. It continued to intensify as it entered the central Pacific. Shortly after entering the central Pacific, Gilma reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, the second of the season. It then suddenly weakened for unexplained reasons, and weakened into a tropical storm on July 27. It became a depression three days after that and dissipated on July 31. Hurricane Gilma had minor impact on Johnston Atoll
. That atoll received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force, and surf. No casualties or damage were reported.
Hurricane Gilma was the second most-intense Pacific at the time. As of 2010, it remains the seventh-most intense. Gilma is also the strongest July storm in the eastern or central Pacific.
organized into Tropical Depression Eight-E on July 31. It headed west-northwest without strengthening much, and crossed into the central Pacific on August 2. Eight-E developed a second center of circulation, which became dominant, and then became bound up in the intertropical convergence zone
. Eight-E then became disorganized, with multiple centers of circulation, and advisories were discontinued on August 5. The depression's remains continued their westward path well south of the Hawaiian Islands
. The depression regenerated on August 8. It soon strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Li, which is Hawaiian
for "Lee". Li approached the dateline on its generally westward heading. Just before crossing, it intensified into a minimal Category 1 hurricane. It crossed the dateline on August 12 and became a storm in the 1994 Pacific typhoon season. Wind shear from a tropical upper-tropospheric trough weakened back into a tropical storm as it crossed the dateline, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
downgraded Li with its first advisory. Li stayed a tropical storm until August 16, where it weakened into a tropical depression. The system then began recurving, and dissipated on August 18. A weakening Tropical Depression Li caused showers on Wake Island
. Other than there, Li had no impact on any land, and no casualties or damage were reported.
Hurricane Li is one of only six tropical cyclones to exist on all three tropical cyclone basins in the Pacific Ocean. It is also one of only four systems to form as a depression in the east Pacific but be named in the central; the others are Lala, Iniki
, and Lana. However, the question of whether Li actually did those two things is somewhat complicated. Although the National Hurricane Center
issued advisories on Tropical Depression Eight-E, Li's first data point in the official database has a longitude of 140°W
, exactly on the boundary between the east and central Pacific. However, in its preliminary report, the NHC includes a preliminary set of track data including several positions east of 140°W
. Hence, Li's status as an east Pacific tropical cyclone is debatable.
a few hundred miles south of Baja California. It became Tropical Storm Hector quickly, and as it paralleled the coast of Mexico, it began to weaken, dissipating on August 10. No damage was reported anywhere.
Tropical Storm Hector was forecast to approach the Baja California Peninsula
. A tropical storm watch was issued for part of the peninsula on August 8. It was lifted later the same day. Hector's most significant impact was rain. The tropical storm dumped rain along a discontinuous zone of coastal and inland Mexico. The highest point maxima were 7.87 inches (199.9 mm) at Cerro de Ortega/Ixtlahua and 7.6 inches (193 mm) at Caduano/Santiago. No damage or casualties were reported.
Moisture from the system produced heavy rainfall over the island of Hawaii
, totaling to over 15 inches (381 mm). The flooding closed all major roads in Hilo, and was considered the worst flooding in 40 years. The rainfall destroyed two homes and damaged 214, 14 severely. It also damaged roads and businesses. Damage throughout the island totaled to $5 million (1994 USD; $ USD). Flooding occurred in Maui
as well, where landslides blocked portions of the Hana Highway. One-C's point maximum of 15 in (381 mm) makes it Hawaii
's seventh wettest known tropical cyclone.
developed several centers of circulation. After it organized, it separated from the ITCZ and became Tropical Depression Eleven-E on August 10 while the system was about 690 miles (1,110.4 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ileana at the second advisory, at the same time as John, the next storm. An eye
appeared, and Ileana became a hurricane on August 12. It began weakening almost immediately thereafter, as it passed over cooler waters and encountered increasing wind shear. Ileana was a tropical storm on August 13, and the next day it was a dissipating swirl low-level clouds located about 520 miles (836.9 km) west of Punta Eugenia. Although Ileana paralleled the coast of Mexico, watches and warnings were not issued because winds of tropical storm-force were not expected to affect land. No one was killed and there was no damage reported in association with this cyclone.
, and passed just north of Johnston Atoll on August 26. John stayed at hurricane intensity until it crossed the dateline on August 28, becoming a typhoon of the 1994 Pacific typhoon season
. After weakening into a tropical storm, John recurved, looped, and recurved again. It reintensified, and was a hurricane when it recrossed the dateline
to reenter the central Pacific. John headed north-northeast until it went extratropical on September 10, thirty one days after it formed.
Ahead of the hurricane, the 1100 people at Johnston Atoll
evacuated
. On the atoll, John caused $15 million (1994 USD; $ USD) in damage. No deaths were reported. Other than on Johnston, Hurricane John had no impact on land.
Hurricane John was the longest lasting and farthest traveling tropical cyclone on Earth in recorded history. It is also one of six tropical cyclones to exist in all three basins
of the Pacific Ocean, an uncommon west-to-east dateline crosser, and one of the few tropical cyclone to cross the dateline more than once.
declared the depression dissipated on August 15. The depression had no effects anywhere.
formed and it became a hurricane. Twelve hours later, it reached Category 2 intensity. Kristy weakened steadily from that point due to wind shear
. It passed about 300 miles (482.8 km) south of Hawaii, and dissipated on September 5. The lowest central pressure of Kristy is unknown. The last estimate was made when Kirsty was still a tropical storm.
As it approached the Hawaiian Islands, a high surf advisory and a high wind warning
were issued for the Big Island of Hawaii. No damage or deaths were reported in association with this system.
and is also the Hawaiian form of "Mary". Mele headed west-northwest and weakened back into a tropical depression on September. It dissipated later that day without incident.
.
and become distinct by September 19. The disturbance slowly headed westward and it organized into a tropical depression on September 22 while located about 720 miles (1,158.7 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
. The depression headed west-northwestwards and strengthened into Tropical Storm Olivia on September 22. It steadily intensified and was a hurricane on September 24. It then rapidly strengthened into a powerful major hurricane. It slowly curled to the northwest as it was observed
by NOAA research aircraft. Olivia peaked in intensity on September 25. Meanwhile, a large cyclone
off the extreme southern part of
California
induced a northward path. As Olivia started a small anticyclonic loop, wind shear
began to weaken the hurricane. When Olivia was finished the loop, it had weakened to a tropical storm. It then headed westward. It weakened into a tropical depression on September 28 and dissipated the next day. No impact was reported.
When it formed, Hurricane Olivia was the third most-intense Pacific hurricane ever recorded, and second most-intense in the east Pacific proper. Since then, several other hurricanes have reached a lower pressure
, but Olivia remains the ninth most-intense Pacific hurricane, seventh-most in the east Pacific proper. Olivia was also the strongest September hurricane at the time. It held that record until Hurricane Linda
broke it. Olivia is still the third strongest September hurricane. Olivia is also the most intense Pacific hurricane
not to reach Category 5 intensity. Hurricane Olivia shares its intensity records and rankings with 2001's Juliette
.
that had been hanging around since September 15 and escaped destruction by Tropical Storm Miriam organized into Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on September 24. It was located between Miriam's remnants and the developing Olivia. It became Tropical Storm Paul on the afternoon of September 25. It peaked in intensity on September 27. Then, upper outflow
from the nearby Olivia started shearing the tropical cyclone. Paul had been completely destroyed by September 30. The tropical cyclone never threatened land, and consequently, no damage or deaths were reported.
steered Rosa north and then northeast. Rosa intensified quickly, peaking at Category 2 intensity just before landfall near La Concepción on the morning of October 14. Rosa quickly decayed over the mountains of Mexico, and its cloud shield rapidly accelerated northward through the United States, spreading moisture.
On October 12, a hurricane watch
was issued for the coast from Culiacán
to Manzanillo
and the Baja California Peninsula
south of latitude 24°N
. At the same time, a tropical storm warning was issued from Manzanillo to Tepic
. On October 14, a hurricane warning was issued for the coast between Culiacán and Cabo Corrientes
, and a tropical storm warning south of Cabo Corrientes to Manzanillo. All watches and warnings were lifted later that day.
Four deaths, two in each of Nayarit
and Durango
, were reported. Four people were missing in Sinaloa
. All of the deaths were due to drowning
. More than 100,000 people had their homes damaged in Nayarit. Telephone poles and power line
s were downed in Sinaloa. Rain caused landslide
s and flash-flooding
in mountainous areas. In Jalisco
, mudslides forced the evacuation of 400 people from two coastal villages. The highest rainfall total in Mexico was 14.09 inches (357.9 mm) at Mesa de Pedro Pablo. The moisture Rosa sent into the United States was a contributing factor in record rains in parts of southeastern Texas
from October 15 to 19. Those rains caused flooding that killed 22 people, destroyed over 3000 homes, and caused 700 million USD
(year unknown) in damage.
for the Latin name spelled the same way. Nona immediately weakened back into a tropical depression. Upper-level westerlies from a nearby trough
destroyed the depression on October 26. No deaths or damage were reported. Nona was a tropical storm for six hours, the minimum possible time.
Accumulated Cyclone Energy
(ACE) is a measure of how active a hurricane season is. It is calculated by squaring the windspeed of a cyclone with at least tropical storm-force winds every six hours, summing the results, and dividing that total by 104. As a tropical cyclone does not have gale-force winds until it becomes a tropical storm, tropical depressions are not included in these tables. For all storms, ACE is given to three significant figures
. The ACE in the east Pacific proper (140°W
to North America) is given; the ACE in the central Pacific (the International Date Line
to 140°W
) is given in brackets. The table includes the ACE for Li and John only during those storm's time east of the dateline. Their ACE west of the dateline is part of the totals of the 1994 typhoon season
.
The National Hurricane Center
uses ACE to rank hurricane seasons as above-normal, near-normal, and below-normal. It defines below-normal as having an ACE less than 95*104 kt2 kt2; It defines above normal as having an ACE above 150*104 kt2 along with the numbers of any two of the following above average: tropical storms (15), hurricanes (9), or major hurricanes (4); It defines near-normal as having an ACE between 100*104 kt2 and 150*104 kt2, or an ACE above 150*104 kt2 with fewer than two of the numbers of the following above average: tropical storms (15), hurricanes (9), or major hurricanes (4).
This season has a total of seventeen tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. The total ACE of this season is 185*104 kt2. This qualifies this season as above-normal.
. This is the same list used for the 1988 season
except for Ileana, which replaced Iva. A storm was named Ileana for the first time in 1994.
Three names were used from the Central Pacific list—Li, Mele and Nona. This was the first usage for all of these names.
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...
formed on June 18, while the last system dissipated on October 26. This season, twenty-two tropical cyclones formed in the north Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, with all but two becoming tropical storms or hurricanes. This was the final season of the eastern north Pacific's most recent active string of hurricane seasons.
Of note in this season is an unusual spree of very intense storms. Hurricanes Emilia
Hurricane Emilia (1994)
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 on July 19—only Gilma...
, Gilma
Hurricane Gilma (1994)
Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...
, John
Hurricane John (1994)
Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...
, and Olivia all reached a pressure below 930 millibars. Longevity-wise, no tropical cyclone of any basin had previously persisted for as long as Hurricane John. Elsewhere, Hurricane Rosa
Hurricane Rosa (1994)
Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of...
caused several casualties in Mexico as the basin's lone landfalling tropical storm or hurricane.
Season summary
This season, twenty-two tropical cyclones formed in the north Pacific Ocean east of the dateline. All but two of them became tropical storms or hurricanes. In the eastern Pacific (140°W140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to North America), nineteen tropical depressions formed, of which seventeen became tropical storms, nine became hurricanes, and five became major hurricanes of Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir Simpson 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...
. These numbers are the long-term averages of fifteen tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.
In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...
's area of responsibility
Area of responsibility
Area Of Responsibility is a pre-defined geographic region assigned to a Combatant commanders of the Unified Command Plan , that are used to define an area with specific geographic boundaries where they have the authority to plan and conduct operations; for which a force, or component commander...
(140°W
140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
), three depressions, two tropical storms, and one hurricane formed. Over all, there were eleven tropical cyclones, eight tropical storms, five hurricanes, and three major hurricanes that formed or entered the central Pacific. These numbers are well above the long-term average of four tropical cyclones, two hurricanes, one tropical storm, and two depressions. The extremely high activity was contributed to by an El Niño ongoing at the time.
The only named storm to make landfall this year was Hurricane Rosa
Hurricane Rosa (1994)
Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of...
, which killed several people in Mexico. Other notable storms include Hurricane Olivia, which is one of the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record, the three Category 5 hurricanes Emilia
Hurricane Emilia (1994)
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 on July 19—only Gilma...
, Gilma
Hurricane Gilma (1994)
Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...
, and John
Hurricane John (1994)
Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...
, and Hurricane Li, which existed in all three basins (East, Central, and West) of the Pacific Ocean.
This season is the end of the eastern north Pacific's most recent active period. That period, which began in 1980, and includes the five most active Pacific hurricane seasons, ended with this season. Starting in 1995, multi-decadal factors switched to a phase that suppresses Pacific hurricane activity. Since then, Pacific hurricane activity has been largely inactive.
Records
The 1994 Pacific hurricane season set several records. First, three hurricanes reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane ScaleSaffir-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 only other time that happened was in 2002
2002 Pacific hurricane season
The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...
. Two systems, Hurricanes Li and John, crossed through all three Pacific Ocean basins; this season is the only one to have more than one tropical cyclone do that. Hurricane John was the longest lasting and most continuous tropical cyclone on Earth in recorded history. Eleven tropical cyclones entered or formed in the central Pacific, a record shared with the 1992 season
1992 Pacific hurricane season
The 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record. The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall and killed several people, but...
. Finally, of the four most intense hurricanes on record in the central Pacific, three of them occurred this season.
Tropical Storm Aletta
Tropical Depression One-E formed from an area of disturbed weather on June 18. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Aletta the next day. It continued intensifying and reached its peak intensity on June 20. Vertical wind shearWind 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...
began to weaken the storm thereafter. The weakening trend continued, weakening Aletta to a depression on June 21. The system dissipated June 23. Aletta's remnant low, however, could be tracked on satellite images for days following the storm. The low finally dissipated north of Hawaii. Aletta never affected land, and no damage or casualties were reported.
Tropical Storm Bud
Tropical Depression Two-E formed on June 27 about 575 miles (925.4 km) south-southwest of the tip of the Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. The depression headed west-northwest, gradually turned to the northwest, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Bud on June 27. Early the next day, Bud peaked in intensity. 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...
caused by a nearby upper level low
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...
slowly weakened Bud. Later on June 28, a second center of circulation developed. The two centers started a Fujiwhara interaction. The second center then became dominant and the first one vanished. This confused structure is similar to what happened to 1993's Tropical Storm Arlene
Tropical Storm Arlene (1993)
Tropical Storm Arlene was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Texas since Hurricane Jerry in 1989. The second tropical cyclone and first named storm of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season, Arlene developed from a tropical wave in the southern Gulf of Mexico on June 18...
. This confused structure also weakened Bud to a tropical depression on the afternoon of the same day the second center formed. Bud then headed westward over cool waters and dissipated on June 29. Tropical Storm Bud spent its entire life over the open ocean far from land areas. No casualties or damage was reported.
Hurricane Carlotta
The tropical depression that would be Carlotta formed on June 28. It quickly became Tropical Storm Carlotta, and a large eyeEye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
became visible. Because of this, the NHC
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...
upgraded the storm to a hurricane. Carlotta peaked in intensity on July 1, as a 105 mi/h hurricane. It gradually weakened as it moved into cooler waters, dissipating on July 5. Carlotta did not threaten land.
Carlotta buffeted Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
with sustained winds of 39 mph (62.8 km/h) on June 30. Other than there, Carlotta caused no damage or deaths.
Tropical Storm Daniel
On July 8, a disturbance located about 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
developed a circulation and became Tropical Depression Four-E. Convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
increased, and the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Daniel. Upper-level outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
improved, and Daniel peaked in intensity on July 9. Daniel slowly declined as it continued westward. It entered the central Pacific on July 11. 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...
weakened Daniel as it approached the Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, and by July 15 had degenerated into an open wave.
When Daniel was approaching Hawaii, moderate surf of 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) impacted the south and southeast shores of the Big Island on July 13 and 14. Daniel's remnants also passed about 100 miles (160.9 km) south of South Point, Hawaii on July 15. That day, they caused rainfall on windward slopes of the Big Island locally reaching 5 inches (127 mm). No reports of damage or casualties were received.
Hurricane Emilia
On July 16, an area of low pressureLow 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...
associated with a tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Five-E. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Emilia later that day. It moved west-northwest and strengthened into a hurricane. It entered the central Pacific on July 17. It continued intensifying, reaching Category 5 intensity on July 19, the first Category 5 Pacific hurricane since Ava
Hurricane Ava (1973)
Hurricane Ava was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first named storm of the 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Forming in early June, Hurricane Ava eventually reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the...
. Emilia started weakening quickly on July 21. It weakened to a tropical storm on July 23 and dissipated two days later.
Emilia passed south of the Hawai’ian Islands, producing swells of 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m) in height near the Puna
Puna, Hawaii
Puna is one of the nine districts in Hawaii County, Big Island, Hawaii. The District of Puna is located on the easternmost portion of the island and shares borders to the north with the District of South Hilo and a border to the west with the District of Kaū...
and Ka‘ū coasts. Winds caused minor damage, and rain was moderate. No one was killed.
Tropical Storm Fabio
A tropical depression formed on July 19. Later that day, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Fabio. Fabio headed generally west or northwestward. It entered the central Pacific as a tropical depression, and dissipated on July 24.Fabio's remnants brought locally heavy rainfall to Hawaii, reaching 3 to 4 in (76.2 to 101.6 mm). No one was killed and there was no damage.
Hurricane Gilma
Part of 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...
organized into a tropical depression on July 21. It headed westward and out to sea, strengthening into a tropical storm the next day. Gilma rapidly strengthened and became a hurricane exactly one day after it was named. It continued to intensify as it entered the central Pacific. Shortly after entering the central Pacific, Gilma reached Category 5 intensity 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 second of the season. It then suddenly weakened for unexplained reasons, and weakened into a tropical storm on July 27. It became a depression three days after that and dissipated on July 31. Hurricane Gilma had minor impact on Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...
. That atoll received light rain, wind gusts to near gale force, and surf. No casualties or damage were reported.
Hurricane Gilma was the second most-intense Pacific at the time. As of 2010, it remains the seventh-most intense. Gilma is also the strongest July storm in the eastern or central Pacific.
Hurricane Li
A tropical disturbance southwest of Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
organized into Tropical Depression Eight-E on July 31. It headed west-northwest without strengthening much, and crossed into the central Pacific on August 2. Eight-E developed a second center of circulation, which became dominant, and then became bound up in the intertropical convergence zone
Intertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
. Eight-E then became disorganized, with multiple centers of circulation, and advisories were discontinued on August 5. The depression's remains continued their westward path well south of the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. The depression regenerated on August 8. It soon strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Li, which is Hawaiian
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
for "Lee". Li approached the dateline on its generally westward heading. Just before crossing, it intensified into a minimal Category 1 hurricane. It crossed the dateline on August 12 and became a storm in the 1994 Pacific typhoon season. Wind shear from a tropical upper-tropospheric trough weakened back into a tropical storm as it crossed the dateline, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force located at the Naval Maritime Forecast Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...
downgraded Li with its first advisory. Li stayed a tropical storm until August 16, where it weakened into a tropical depression. The system then began recurving, and dissipated on August 18. A weakening Tropical Depression Li caused showers on Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
. Other than there, Li had no impact on any land, and no casualties or damage were reported.
Hurricane Li is one of only six tropical cyclones to exist on all three tropical cyclone basins in the Pacific Ocean. It is also one of only four systems to form as a depression in the east Pacific but be named in the central; the others are Lala, Iniki
Hurricane Iniki
Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. state of Hawaii in recorded history. Forming on September 5 during the strong El Niño of 1991–1994, Iniki was one of eleven Central Pacific tropical cyclones during the 1992 season. It attained tropical storm status on...
, and Lana. However, the question of whether Li actually did those two things is somewhat complicated. Although 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...
issued advisories on Tropical Depression Eight-E, Li's first data point in the official database has a longitude of 140°W
140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, exactly on the boundary between the east and central Pacific. However, in its preliminary report, the NHC includes a preliminary set of track data including several positions east of 140°W
140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. Hence, Li's status as an east Pacific tropical cyclone is debatable.
Tropical Storm Hector
On August 7, a tropical depression formed from 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...
a few hundred miles south of Baja California. It became Tropical Storm Hector quickly, and as it paralleled the coast of Mexico, it began to weaken, dissipating on August 10. No damage was reported anywhere.
Tropical Storm Hector was forecast to approach the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. A tropical storm watch was issued for part of the peninsula on August 8. It was lifted later the same day. Hector's most significant impact was rain. The tropical storm dumped rain along a discontinuous zone of coastal and inland Mexico. The highest point maxima were 7.87 inches (199.9 mm) at Cerro de Ortega/Ixtlahua and 7.6 inches (193 mm) at Caduano/Santiago. No damage or casualties were reported.
Tropical Depression One-C
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression on August 9 while located 740 miles (1,190.9 km) southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. The depression moved westward without organizing, and dissipated on August 14.Moisture from the system produced heavy rainfall over the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, totaling to over 15 inches (381 mm). The flooding closed all major roads in Hilo, and was considered the worst flooding in 40 years. The rainfall destroyed two homes and damaged 214, 14 severely. It also damaged roads and businesses. Damage throughout the island totaled to $5 million (1994 USD; $ USD). Flooding occurred in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
as well, where landslides blocked portions of the Hana Highway. One-C's point maximum of 15 in (381 mm) makes it Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
's seventh wettest known tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Ileana
A disturbance that was part of the intertropical convergence zoneIntertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
developed several centers of circulation. After it organized, it separated from the ITCZ and became Tropical Depression Eleven-E on August 10 while the system was about 690 miles (1,110.4 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Ileana at the second advisory, at the same time as John, the next storm. An eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
appeared, and Ileana became a hurricane on August 12. It began weakening almost immediately thereafter, as it passed over cooler waters and encountered increasing wind shear. Ileana was a tropical storm on August 13, and the next day it was a dissipating swirl low-level clouds located about 520 miles (836.9 km) west of Punta Eugenia. Although Ileana paralleled the coast of Mexico, watches and warnings were not issued because winds of tropical storm-force were not expected to affect land. No one was killed and there was no damage reported in association with this cyclone.
Hurricane John
Tropical Depression Ten-E formed on August 11 south of Mexico. It headed generally westward, and was upgraded into a tropical storm twelve hours after it formed and was named John. John fluctuated in strength as it headed west, always managing to stay at tropical storm strength. On August 20, steady intensification began, and John was a major hurricane when it entered the central Pacific. It continued westward, reaching Category 5 intensity on August 23. It passed around 245 miles (394.3 km) south of HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, and passed just north of Johnston Atoll on August 26. John stayed at hurricane intensity until it crossed the dateline on August 28, becoming a typhoon of the 1994 Pacific typhoon season
1994 Pacific typhoon season
The 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...
. After weakening into a tropical storm, John recurved, looped, and recurved again. It reintensified, and was a hurricane when it recrossed the dateline
Dateline
A dateline is a brief piece of text included in news articles that describes where and when the story occurred, or was written or filed, though the date is often omitted. In the case of articles reprinted from wire services, the distributing organization is also included...
to reenter the central Pacific. John headed north-northeast until it went extratropical on September 10, thirty one days after it formed.
Ahead of the hurricane, the 1100 people at Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...
evacuated
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
. On the atoll, John caused $15 million (1994 USD; $ USD) in damage. No deaths were reported. Other than on Johnston, Hurricane John had no impact on land.
Hurricane John was the longest lasting and farthest traveling tropical cyclone on Earth in recorded history. It is also one of six tropical cyclones to exist in all three basins
Tropical cyclone basins
Traditionally, areas of tropical cyclone formation are divided into seven basins. These include the north Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and western parts of the northern Pacific Ocean, the southwestern Pacific, the southwestern and southeastern Indian Oceans, and the northern Indian Ocean. The...
of the Pacific Ocean, an uncommon west-to-east dateline crosser, and one of the few tropical cyclone to cross the dateline more than once.
Tropical Depression Twelve-E
On August 14, an area of convection organized enough to be considered a tropical depression. It was steered by John's circulation, and it was never expected to strengthen much because it was close to cool waters. The cyclone drifted north, then northeast, north again, northwest, and then west. The National Hurricane CenterNational 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...
declared the depression dissipated on August 15. The depression had no effects anywhere.
Hurricane Kristy
On August 28, Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed about 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was named Tropical Storm Kristy on August 30. As it crossed into the central Pacific, a banding-type eyeEye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
formed and it became a hurricane. Twelve hours later, it reached Category 2 intensity. Kristy weakened steadily from that point due to 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...
. It passed about 300 miles (482.8 km) south of Hawaii, and dissipated on September 5. The lowest central pressure of Kristy is unknown. The last estimate was made when Kirsty was still a tropical storm.
As it approached the Hawaiian Islands, a high surf advisory and a high wind warning
Severe weather terminology (United States)
This article describes the United States National Weather Service severe weather terminology. The NWS defines precise meanings for nearly all its weather terms. This article describes NWS terminology and related NWS weather scales...
were issued for the Big Island of Hawaii. No damage or deaths were reported in association with this system.
Hurricane Lane
The same tropical wave that spawned Tropical Depression Five in the Atlantic became Tropical Depression Fourteen-E on September 3. It quickly became Tropical Storm Lane. A high pressure ridge centered itself north of Lane, keeping the storm on a westward track. This brought Lane into very favorable conditions, and Lane intensified. When the tropical storm reached hurricane strength, it entered a phase of rapid intensification, reaching winds of about 135 mi/h, making it a category four hurricane. The high pressure ridge shifted eastward, and allowed Lane to enter unfavorable conditions. Lane dissipated on September 10.Tropical Storm Mele
A tropical disturbance became Tropical Depression Two-C on September 6. It reached tropical storm strength the next day, being named Mele. The name Mele means "song" in the Hawaiian languageHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
and is also the Hawaiian form of "Mary". Mele headed west-northwest and weakened back into a tropical depression on September. It dissipated later that day without incident.
Tropical Storm Miriam
Miriam formed from a weak disturbance on September 15. It strengthened slightly into Tropical Storm Miriam, and dissipated on September 21, having led an uneventful life without impact. In an interesting occurrence, the low-level remnants of Miriam were still visible for weeks after the storm dissipated near 140°W140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
.
Tropical Storm Norman
A tropical depression formed on September 19, and became Tropical Storm Norman the next day. After tracking northwest, it began to turn north in response to a trough, and convection began to diminish. Norman dissipated on September 22 without having ever affected land.Hurricane Olivia
Hurricane Olivia ultimately formed from a disturbance that had separated from the intertropical convergence zoneIntertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
and become distinct by September 19. The disturbance slowly headed westward and it organized into a tropical depression on September 22 while located about 720 miles (1,158.7 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. The depression headed west-northwestwards and strengthened into Tropical Storm Olivia on September 22. It steadily intensified and was a hurricane on September 24. It then rapidly strengthened into a powerful major hurricane. It slowly curled to the northwest as it was observed
Tropical cyclone observation
Tropical cyclone observation has been carried out over the past couple of centuries in various ways. The passage of typhoons, hurricanes, as well as other tropical cyclones have been detected by word of mouth from sailors recently coming to port or by radio transmissions from ships at sea, from...
by NOAA research aircraft. Olivia peaked in intensity on September 25. Meanwhile, a large cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
off the extreme southern part of
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
induced a northward path. As Olivia started a small anticyclonic loop, 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...
began to weaken the hurricane. When Olivia was finished the loop, it had weakened to a tropical storm. It then headed westward. It weakened into a tropical depression on September 28 and dissipated the next day. No impact was reported.
When it formed, Hurricane Olivia was the third most-intense Pacific hurricane ever recorded, and second most-intense in the east Pacific proper. Since then, several other hurricanes have reached a lower 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...
, but Olivia remains the ninth most-intense Pacific hurricane, seventh-most in the east Pacific proper. Olivia was also the strongest September hurricane at the time. It held that record until Hurricane Linda
Hurricane Linda (1997)
Hurricane Linda was the strongest eastern Pacific hurricane on record. Forming from a tropical wave on September 9, 1997, Linda steadily intensified and reached hurricane status within 36 hours of developing. It rapidly intensified, reaching winds of and an estimated central pressure...
broke it. Olivia is still the third strongest September hurricane. Olivia is also the most intense Pacific hurricane
Pacific hurricane
A Pacific hurricane or tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that develops in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, , central , and western...
not to reach Category 5 intensity. Hurricane Olivia shares its intensity records and rankings with 2001's Juliette
Hurricane Juliette (2001)
Hurricane Juliette was a long lasting Category 4 hurricane in the 2001 Pacific hurricane season. It caused 12 deaths and $400 million in damage when it hit Baja California in late September.-Meteorological history:...
.
Tropical Storm Paul
A nearly stationary cluster of thunderstorms and convectionAtmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
that had been hanging around since September 15 and escaped destruction by Tropical Storm Miriam organized into Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on September 24. It was located between Miriam's remnants and the developing Olivia. It became Tropical Storm Paul on the afternoon of September 25. It peaked in intensity on September 27. Then, upper outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
from the nearby Olivia started shearing the tropical cyclone. Paul had been completely destroyed by September 30. The tropical cyclone never threatened land, and consequently, no damage or deaths were reported.
Hurricane Rosa
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression at midday on October 8. It had trouble organizing, and advisories were discontinued for a while. The cyclone finally became a tropical storm on October 11 and was named Rosa. It moved glacially, but eventually a 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...
steered Rosa north and then northeast. Rosa intensified quickly, peaking at Category 2 intensity just before landfall near La Concepción on the morning of October 14. Rosa quickly decayed over the mountains of Mexico, and its cloud shield rapidly accelerated northward through the United States, spreading moisture.
On October 12, a hurricane watch
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
was issued for the coast from Culiacán
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
to Manzanillo
Manzanillo, Colima
The name Manzanillo refers to the city as well as its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Colima. The city, located on the Pacific Ocean, contains Mexico's busiest port. Manzanillo was the third port created by the Spanish in the Pacific during the New Spain period...
and the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
south of latitude 24°N
24th parallel north
The 24th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 24 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
. At the same time, a tropical storm warning was issued from Manzanillo to Tepic
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
. On October 14, a hurricane warning was issued for the coast between Culiacán and Cabo Corrientes
Cabo Corrientes
Cabo Corrientes is a cape on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It marks the southernmost point of the Bahía de Banderas, upon which the port and resort city of Puerto Vallarta stands. The municipality in which the cape lies is also called Cabo Corrientes.Cabo Corrientes is a...
, and a tropical storm warning south of Cabo Corrientes to Manzanillo. All watches and warnings were lifted later that day.
Four deaths, two in each of Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
and Durango
Durango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, were reported. Four people were missing in Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
. All of the deaths were due to drowning
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
. More than 100,000 people had their homes damaged in Nayarit. Telephone poles and power line
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
s were downed in Sinaloa. Rain caused landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s and flash-flooding
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
in mountainous areas. In Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, mudslides forced the evacuation of 400 people from two coastal villages. The highest rainfall total in Mexico was 14.09 inches (357.9 mm) at Mesa de Pedro Pablo. The moisture Rosa sent into the United States was a contributing factor in record rains in parts of southeastern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from October 15 to 19. Those rains caused flooding that killed 22 people, destroyed over 3000 homes, and caused 700 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(year unknown) in damage.
Tropical Storm Nona
Tropical Depression Three-C formed on October 21 in the Central Pacific basin. It traveled westward for about 4 days before strengthening to Tropical Storm Nona on October 25. The name "Nona" is HawaiianHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
for the Latin name spelled the same way. Nona immediately weakened back into a tropical depression. Upper-level westerlies from a nearby trough
Trough (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...
destroyed the depression on October 26. No deaths or damage were reported. Nona was a tropical storm for six hours, the minimum possible time.
Impact
Timeline
The season began with the formation of Tropical Depression One-E on June 18 and ended with the dissipation of Tropical Depression Nona on October 26. No named systems formed in May, three in June, four in July, five in August, six in September, two in October, and none in November. The total length of the season, from the formation of the first depression to the dissipation of the last, was 130 days.Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE)
| Accumulated Cyclone Energy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | ACE | Rank | Name | ACE |
| 1 | John Hurricane John (1994) Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed... |
10.1 (43.9) | 11 | Ileana | 3.16 |
| 2 | Emilia Hurricane Emilia (1994) 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 on July 19—only Gilma... |
1.72 (31.4) | 12 | Hector | 1.65 |
| 3 | Gilma Hurricane Gilma (1994) Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma... |
5.80 (18.8) | 13 | Aletta | 1.42 |
| 4 | Olivia | 16.5 | 14 | Miriam | 1.30 |
| 5 | Lane | 12.7 | 15 | Paul | 1.22 |
| 6 | Carlotta | 10.5 | 16 | Mele | (0.980) |
| 7 | Rosa Hurricane Rosa (1994) Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of... |
6.21 | 17 | Fabio | 0.65 |
| 8 | Kristy | 1.02 (5.16) | 18 | Norman | 0.613 |
| 9 | Daniel | 2.91 (2.22) | 19 | Bud | 0.565 |
| 10 | Li | (4.48) | 20 | Nona | (0.123) |
| Total: 78.0 (107) | |||||
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) is a measure of how active a hurricane season is. It is calculated by squaring the windspeed of a cyclone with at least tropical storm-force winds every six hours, summing the results, and dividing that total by 104. As a tropical cyclone does not have gale-force winds until it becomes a tropical storm, tropical depressions are not included in these tables. For all storms, ACE is given to three significant figures
Significant figures
The significant figures of a number are those digits that carry meaning contributing to its precision. This includes all digits except:...
. The ACE in the east Pacific proper (140°W
140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to North America) is given; the ACE in the central Pacific (the International Date Line
International Date Line
The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...
to 140°W
140th meridian west
The meridian 140° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
) is given in brackets. The table includes the ACE for Li and John only during those storm's time east of the dateline. Their ACE west of the dateline is part of the totals of the 1994 typhoon season
1994 Pacific typhoon season
The 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...
.
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...
uses ACE to rank hurricane seasons as above-normal, near-normal, and below-normal. It defines below-normal as having an ACE less than 95*104 kt2 kt2; It defines above normal as having an ACE above 150*104 kt2 along with the numbers of any two of the following above average: tropical storms (15), hurricanes (9), or major hurricanes (4); It defines near-normal as having an ACE between 100*104 kt2 and 150*104 kt2, or an ACE above 150*104 kt2 with fewer than two of the numbers of the following above average: tropical storms (15), hurricanes (9), or major hurricanes (4).
This season has a total of seventeen tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. The total ACE of this season is 185*104 kt2. This qualifies this season as above-normal.
Storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1994; names that were not assigned are marked in gray. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 2000 season2000 Pacific hurricane season
The 2000 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. There were few notable storms this year. Tropical Storms Miriam, Norman, and Rosa all made landfall in Mexico with minimal impact. Hurricane Daniel briefly threatened the U.S. state of Hawaii while weakening...
. This is the same list used for the 1988 season
1988 Pacific hurricane season
The 1988 Pacific hurricane season was a Pacific hurricane season that saw a below-average amount of tropical cyclones form, and that had only one landfalling storm. It officially began May 15, 1988 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1988 in the central Pacific and lasted until November 30, 1988...
except for Ileana, which replaced Iva. A storm was named Ileana for the first time in 1994.
|
Hurricane John (1994) Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed... |
Hurricane Rosa (1994) Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of... |
Three names were used from the Central Pacific list—Li, Mele and Nona. This was the first usage for all of these names.
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of Pacific hurricane seasons
- 1994 Atlantic hurricane season1994 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 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....
- 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