1993 Atlantic hurricane season

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1993 Atlantic hurricane season

Season summary map
First storm formed: May 31, 1993
Last storm dissipated: October 1, 1993
Strongest storm: Emily – 960 mbar (28.34 inHg), 115 mph (185 km/h)
Total storms: 8
Major storms (Cat. 3+): 1
Total damage: $271+ million (1993 USD) $356+ million (2005 USD)
Total fatalities: 274
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a period in the annual formation of tropical cyclones. It officially began on June 1, 1993, and lasted until November 30, 1993. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The season experienced relatively low activity, with eight named storms, four becoming hurricanes; the low activity is the result of a strong El Niño that lasted from 1991 to 1994.

Tropical Storm Bret caused 184 deaths when it tracked across northern Venezuela in early August. Hurricane Gert caused significant damage to Mexico after tracking across Central America, killing 76. Hurricane Emily, the strongest storm of the season, caused light damage to the Outer Banks but never made landfall.

Contents


[edit] Storms

[edit] Tropical Depression One

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration May 31 – June 2
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 999 mbar (hPa)

This system formed just west of the Isle of Youth on May 31, then travelled across Cuba and the Bahamas before becoming extratropical southwest of Bermuda on June 2. Seven people were reported dead in Cuba from heavy rains associated with the tropical depression.

[edit] Tropical Storm Arlene

Main article: Tropical Storm Arlene (1993)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 18 – June 21
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa)

A tropical wave was detected in the Caribbean Sea over Central America on June 9. The system moved westward, bringing heavy rains in El Salvador before moving to the northwest. Moderately favorable conditions allowed the wave to organize into a tropical depression in the eastern Bay of Campeche on June 18. The system moved northwest and reached tropical storm strength on the 19th. Landfall occurred on June 20 on Padre Island, and the system dissipated the next day. Arlene caused 6 casualties and $55 million (1993 US dollars) in damage from its heavy flooding and beach erosion. In addition, the precursor tropical wave killed 20 people in El Salvador. [1]

[edit] Tropical Storm Bret

Main article: Tropical Storm Bret (1993)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 4 – August 11
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), 1002 mbar (hPa)

Bret formed along 10°N about 1,150 miles (1,850 km) west of Cape Verde on August 4, a latitude it would stay at for most of its life. The storm tracked westward over Trinidad and a small portion of the Venezuelan coast on the 7th, and then back over the Caribbean Sea. The next day, Bret again crossed into Venezuela, and travelled into Colombia. It weakened over the mountainous terrain, and after becoming a tropical depression over the Caribbean, Bret hit southern Nicaragua on the 10th with 45 mph (72 km/h) winds. 184 people were killed from the storm, with heavy damage reported.

[edit] Tropical Storm Cindy

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 14 – August 17
Intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min), 1007 mbar (hPa)

On August 8, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa and tracked west-northwestward across the Atlantic. Hurricane Hunters investigated the disturbance on August 13, finding a poorly-organized surface circulation. The next day, the circulation developed sufficient convection to be designated as a tropical depression.[1] Under the steering currents of a low- to mid-level flow, the depression continued west-northwestward. Late on August 14 it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cindy near Martinique,[2] and a tropical storm warning was put in place for portions of the Lesser Antilles, and for the U.S and British Virgin Islands.[3] At the time, tropical storm-force winds extended about 60 mi (97 km) from the center.[3] Little intensification occurred despite upper-level outflow, and Cindy reached peak winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) on August 16, south of Hispaniola.[2] The circulation was soon disrupted, and it was downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved over Dominican Republic. Tropical Depression Cindy quickly dissipated by August 17, although its remnants spread over the Bahamas the next day.[2]

Later in its duration, a tropical storm warning was issued for Puerto Rico,[4] later extended to the Dominican Republic.[5] Several hundred residents of flood-prone areas of Puerto Rice were evacuated.[6] The Santo Domingo International Airport suspended operations as the storm approached.[7] Although Cindy was a weak storm, rainfall amounts of 12 in (300 mm) were reported on the island of Martinique, while 3 in (76 mm)–4 in (100 mm) fell elsewhere over the Dominican Republic; there, scattered flooding was reported, but there was no major damage.[8] The storm caused moderate to severe flooding in some places, killing two people and leaving two missing in the Dominican Republic, and killing two in Martinique. Damage was estimated in the millions of dollars to houses, roads and seawalls.[6]

[edit] Tropical Storm Dennis

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 23 – August 28
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa)

Dennis formed in the mid-Atlantic on August 24, traveled northwest, and then dissipated on the 28th. Tropical Storm Dennis never affected land and no damage was reported.

[edit] Hurricane Emily

Main article: Hurricane Emily (1993)
Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 22 – September 6
Intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min), 960 mbar (hPa)

Emily formed on August 22 as a tropical depression and moved northwest, eventually coming to a standstill 1,000 miles (1,600 km) east of Florida. The storm initially moved southwest, but its track curved northward, sending it toward North Carolina. Hurricane Emily approached within 25 miles (40 km) of Hatteras Island on August 31 as a Category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Emily then turned back out to sea, and on September 6 became extratropical and dissipated.

Three drowning deaths were reported along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia. Property damage was isolated to the barrier islands, and was estimated at $35 million (1993 dollars).

[edit] Hurricane Floyd

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 7 – September 10
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min), 990 mbar (hPa)

Floyd formed midway between Bermuda and Hispaniola on September 7. It headed north while staying well west of Bermuda, and then took a northeastward track. A poorly organized tropical storm, Floyd did not reach hurricane strength until late on the 9th while southeast of Nova Scotia. Hurricane Floyd's motion began to become more eastward, and it started to lose its tropical characteristics. On September 10, Floyd was classified as a powerful extratropical storm. On September 12, Floyd's lowest barometric reading of 966 millibars was taken. The storm reached Brittany on the 13th as an extratropical storm with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds.

No reports of damage were received by the National Hurricane Center.

[edit] Hurricane Gert

Main article: Hurricane Gert (1993)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 14 – September 21
Intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), 970 mbar (hPa)

Gert formed as a tropical depression in the extreme southwest Caribbean Sea on September 14, about 105 miles (169 km) north of Panama. The depression travelled west-northwest and was upgraded to a tropical storm on the 15th, just before landfall near Bluefields, Nicaragua. Gert weakened back to a tropical depression, travelled across Nicaragua and Honduras, and emerged briefly over water where it regained tropical storm strength. It hit Belize on September 18, crossed the Yucatán Peninsula, and emerged into the Bay of Campeche later that day. Over open water for the first time since it formed, Gert strengthened rapidly, reaching Category 2 strength just before landfall near Tuxpan on September 20. Gert dissipated on the 21st, having caused over $166 million in damage (1993 USD) and killing 76 people.

[edit] Hurricane Harvey

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 18 – September 21
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min), 990 mbar (hPa)

The depression that would become Harvey formed on September 18 about 400 miles (640 km) south-southeast of Bermuda. It tracked northeast, and strengthened first to a tropical storm, then a hurricane. Harvey quickly weakened, and shortly after being declared extratropical on the 18th was absorbed by a front.

[edit] Tropical Depression Ten

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration September 29 – October 1
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 1008 mbar (hPa)

A wind current strengthened into the tenth tropical depression of the season off Bermuda on September 29. It did not strengthen as predicted and ended merging with a cold front on the morning of October 1. [9]

[edit] Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Rating

ACE (104kt2) – Storm: Source
1 22.1 Emily 5 2.14 Dennis
2 3.92 Bret 6 1.96 Harvey
3 3.77 Gert 7 1.14 Cindy
4 3.15 Floyd 8 0.490 Arlene
Total= 38.67 (39)

The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. The ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed for, so hurricanes that lasted a long time have higher ACEs.

[edit] Storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 1993. This is the same list used for the 1987 season. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1999 season. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

  • Harvey
  • Irene (unused)
  • Jose (unused)
  • Katrina (unused)
  • Lenny (unused)
  • Maria (unused)
  • Nate (unused)
  • Ophelia (unused)
  • Philippe (unused)
  • Rita (unused)
  • Stan (unused)
  • Tammy (unused)
  • Vince (unused)
  • Wilma (unused)

[edit] Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names

The World Meteorological Organization retired no names used in the 1993 season.

[edit] Season effects

This is a table of the storms in 1993 and their landfall(s), if any. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but are still storm-related. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical or a wave or low.

1993 Atlantic hurricane statistics
Storm Name Active Dates Storm category

at peak intensity

 Max

Wind

(mph)

 Min.

Press.

(mbar)

 ACE Landfall(s) Damage

(millions

USD)

 Deaths
Where When Wind

(mph)
One May 31 – June 2 Tropical Depression 35 999  0.000 Western Cuba May 31 35 0  7 (0) 
Andros Island June 1 35
Arlene June 11 – June 18 Tropical Storm 40 1006  3.42 Padre Island June 20 40 55  6 (20) 
Bret August 4 – August 11 Tropical Storm 60 1002  3.92 Northern Venezuela August 7 60 25  184 
Bahia Punta Gorda, Nicaragua August 10 45
Cindy August 14 – August 17 Tropical Storm 45 1007  1.14 Martinique August 14 35 0  4 
Santa Cruz de Barahona, Dominican Republic August 16 45
Dennis August 24 – August 28 Tropical Storm 50 1000  2.14 none 0  0 
Emily August 24 – August 28 Category 3 Hurricane 115 960  22.1 Hatteras Island, North Carolina (Direct hit, no landfall) August 31 115 35  0 (3) 
Floyd September 7 – September 10 Category 1 Hurricane 75 990  3.15 none 0  0 
Gert September 14 – September 21 Category 2 Hurricane 100 970  3.77 Bluefields, Nicaragua September 15 40 166  76 
Belize City, Belize September 16 45
Tuxpan, Veracruz September 20 100
Harvey September 18 – September 21 Category 1 Hurricane 75 990  1.96 none 0  0 
Ten September 29 – October 1 Tropical Depression 35 1008  0.000 none 0  0 
Season Aggregates
10 cyclones May 31 - October 1   115 960 38.67 11 landfalls 271 300

[edit] See also

Cyclone Catarina from the ISS on March 26 2004.JPG Tropical cyclones portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Richard Pasch and Edward Rappaport (1993). "Annual Summaries: Atlantic hurricane season of 1993". NOAA. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1993.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 
  2. ^ a b c Max Mayfield (1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  3. ^ a b Mayfield (1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Public Advisory Number 2A". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/public/paal0493.002. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  4. ^ Lawrence (1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Public Advisory Number 4A". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/public/paal0493.004. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  5. ^ Rappaport (1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Public Advisory Number 7A". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/public/pal0493.007. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  6. ^ a b Max Mayfield (1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report Page 2". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved 2008-05-27. 
  7. ^ Associated Press (1993). "Cindy tramples on Dominican Republic". The Kingston Gleaner. http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=14367068_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=5&currentPage=0. Retrieved 2008-05-27. 
  8. ^ Associated Press (1993). "A tropical storm loses steam after washing over the Dominican Republic, but a hurricane threatens Hawaii.". The Syracuse Post-Standard. http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=27862426_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0. Retrieved 2008-05-27. 
  9. ^ Tropical Depression 10 Archive

[edit] External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5
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1990–99 Atlantic hurricane seasons
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