Tropical Depression Ten (1994)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Depression Ten was tenth tropical cyclone
of the inactive 1994 Atlantic hurricane season
. The circulation of Tropical Depression Ten originated after Tropical Depression Eight had moved over Central America and dissipated. Before it ultimately emerged into the Caribbean Sea
and developed into Tropical Depression Ten. Due to its large size, the depression caused heavy rains over most of central and western Cuba, it also caused heavy rain in the Florida Keys
.
Conditions initially appeared favorable for further development of the tropical depression, so it was predicted to become a tropical storm. The depression dissipated the next day because of a larger non-tropical system which was located in the southern Gulf of Mexico absorbed the depression. This non-tropical system could have possibly regenerated into a subtropical cyclone
in the Gulf of Mexico before coming ashore on the Gulf Coast of the United States
.
, while at the same time its deep convection persisted.
It was estimated that the system became Tropical Depression Eight by September 24 at 1200 UTC and the depression was located just offshore of Honduras. The depression moved to the west and ultimately made landfall in southern Belize
as a tropical depression on September 25. On that next day, Tropical Depression Eight had been declared dissipated over Guatemala
. The remnants had become an area of disturbed weather and traveled over the Yucatan Peninsula
and the northwestern Caribbean over the next several days. Convection increased after the several days due to a tropical wave moving in the proximity of the area of disturbed weather. Its deep convection also became further organized as the convection increased.
A circulation soon developed within the system and central pressure recordings were also lower. It was estimated the area of disturbed weather had become Tropical Depression Ten on September 29 at 0600 UTC. A reconnaissance aircraft did not indicate a closed circulation later that day due to the depressions close proximity to Cuba. The system was relatively disorganized and since the center was not present, satellites had to estimate that located of the center of Tropical Depression Ten, some of which recorded a landfall in western Cuba near Cabo San Antonio
on September 29. The tropical depression entered the Gulf of Mexico
on September 30 as it turned to the northwest. On September 30 at 0600 UTC, the tropical depression attained its peak intensity, winds had reached 35 mph (56.3 km/h) and the minimum central pressure had dropped down to 1004 mbar. The depression was soon becoming absorbed by a larger non-tropical system in the southern Gulf of Mexico. By 1800 UTC on September 30, Tropical Depression Ten had been completely absorbed by the non-tropical system.
The remnants of the depression tracked northward across the Gulf of Mexico and could have possibly regenerated into a subtropical storm. Its remnants tracked across the southeastern United States and later emerged into the Atlantic Ocean. The remnants were last identified on October 4 before the remnants became unidentifiable offshore of North Carolina
.
The depression caused a large amount of rain to fall in Cuba and Florida. In Cuba, the city of Giron reported a 24 hours rainfall at 12 inches (304.8 mm). There are no other reports of affects, nor any recordings of damage or fatalities. Rainfall from the tropical depression in the Florida Keys was around 5 inches (127 mm), while rain in the extreme southern Florida totaled to 3–4 in (76.2–101.6 mm), much of the state also had at least 1 to 2 in (25.4 to 50.8 mm) of rain. The rain from the depression remnants peaked at 11.24 inches (285.5 mm) in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
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...
of the inactive 1994 Atlantic hurricane season
1994 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1994 Atlantic hurricane seasonofficially began June 1, 1994, and officially ended November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin....
. The circulation of Tropical Depression Ten originated after Tropical Depression Eight had moved over Central America and dissipated. Before it ultimately emerged into the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and developed into Tropical Depression Ten. Due to its large size, the depression caused heavy rains over most of central and western Cuba, it also caused heavy rain in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
.
Conditions initially appeared favorable for further development of the tropical depression, so it was predicted to become a tropical storm. The depression dissipated the next day because of a larger non-tropical system which was located in the southern Gulf of Mexico absorbed the depression. This non-tropical system could have possibly regenerated into a subtropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
A subtropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of a tropical and an extratropical cyclone. As early as the 1950s, meteorologists were unclear whether they should be characterized as tropical or extratropical cyclones. They were officially recognized by the National...
in the Gulf of Mexico before coming ashore on the Gulf Coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Meteorological history
A concentrated area of deep convection was seen on satellite images in the southwestern Caribbean on September 19. The system moved slowly northeast for several days reaching the northeastern coast of HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, while at the same time its deep convection persisted.
It was estimated that the system became Tropical Depression Eight by September 24 at 1200 UTC and the depression was located just offshore of Honduras. The depression moved to the west and ultimately made landfall in southern Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
as a tropical depression on September 25. On that next day, Tropical Depression Eight had been declared dissipated over Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The remnants had become an area of disturbed weather and traveled over the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
and the northwestern Caribbean over the next several days. Convection increased after the several days due to a tropical wave moving in the proximity of the area of disturbed weather. Its deep convection also became further organized as the convection increased.
A circulation soon developed within the system and central pressure recordings were also lower. It was estimated the area of disturbed weather had become Tropical Depression Ten on September 29 at 0600 UTC. A reconnaissance aircraft did not indicate a closed circulation later that day due to the depressions close proximity to Cuba. The system was relatively disorganized and since the center was not present, satellites had to estimate that located of the center of Tropical Depression Ten, some of which recorded a landfall in western Cuba near Cabo San Antonio
Cape San Antonio, Cuba
Cape San Antonio, , is a cape which forms the western extremity of Cuba. It extends into the Yucatán Channel.-References:*Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, Third Edition. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1997....
on September 29. The tropical depression entered the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
on September 30 as it turned to the northwest. On September 30 at 0600 UTC, the tropical depression attained its peak intensity, winds had reached 35 mph (56.3 km/h) and the minimum central pressure had dropped down to 1004 mbar. The depression was soon becoming absorbed by a larger non-tropical system in the southern Gulf of Mexico. By 1800 UTC on September 30, Tropical Depression Ten had been completely absorbed by the non-tropical system.
The remnants of the depression tracked northward across the Gulf of Mexico and could have possibly regenerated into a subtropical storm. Its remnants tracked across the southeastern United States and later emerged into the Atlantic Ocean. The remnants were last identified on October 4 before the remnants became unidentifiable offshore of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Impact
Initial predictions from the National Hurricane Center estimated that the depression would rapidly develop into a tropical storm. However, the tropical depression remained disorganized and was absorbed into the non-tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico. It was operationally unknown that the non-tropical system would become the dominant system of the southern Gulf of Mexico.The depression caused a large amount of rain to fall in Cuba and Florida. In Cuba, the city of Giron reported a 24 hours rainfall at 12 inches (304.8 mm). There are no other reports of affects, nor any recordings of damage or fatalities. Rainfall from the tropical depression in the Florida Keys was around 5 inches (127 mm), while rain in the extreme southern Florida totaled to 3–4 in (76.2–101.6 mm), much of the state also had at least 1 to 2 in (25.4 to 50.8 mm) of rain. The rain from the depression remnants peaked at 11.24 inches (285.5 mm) in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
See also
- 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....
- List of storms in the 1994 Atlantic hurricane season