1993 Atlantic hurricane season

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1993 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed May 31, 1993
Last storm dissipated September 30, 1993
Strongest storm Emily – 960 mbar (hPa) (28.36 inHg), 115 mph (185 km/h)
Total depressions 8
Total storms 8
Hurricanes 4
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 1
Total fatalities 274
Total damage > $271 million (1993 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average Atlantic hurricane season that produced eight tropical cyclones and tropical storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean. The first tropical cyclone, Tropical Depression One, developed on May 31, while the final storm, Tropical Depression Ten, dissipated on October 1, well before the average dissipation date of a season's last tropical cyclone, the first occurrence since the 1930 season. The most intense hurricane, Emily, was a powerful Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale that paralleled close to the North Carolina coastline causing minor damage and a few deaths before moving out to sea. The season continued the string of below average seasons started in 1991, primarily due to the continued effects of El Niño across the Atlantic basin and above average vertical wind shear, and no hurricanes were observed in the Caribbean Sea during the season, a string started in 1990.

The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Gert, a long-lived cyclone that originated from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa in early September. Upon being declared as a tropical depression in the southwestern Caribbean on September 14, the system moved ashore in Nicaragua at minimal tropical storm intensity. The system weakened to a tropical depression over Central America before briefly strengthening to minimal tropical storm status after entering the Gulf of Honduras. By September 20, Gert had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane while in the Gulf of Mexico, and further strengthened into a Category 2 shortly thereafter. During the afternoon hours of that same day, Gert reached its peak intensity of 100 mph (160 km/h) and made landfall just north of Tuxpan, Veracruz. The storm weakened to a tropical depression over inland Mexico and crossed into the Eastern Pacific, becoming reclassified as Tropical Depression Fourteen-E, before dissipating in an environment unfavorable for intensification. The system caused significant damage including 92 deaths and $170 million (1993 USD). Heavy flood damage was observed along Gert's path throughout Central America and Mexico, and thousands of people became homeless after road networks were severely disrupted.

Contents

[edit] Season summary

Hurricane Gert (1993) Hurricane Emily (1993) Tropical Storm Cindy (1993) Tropical Storm Bret (1993) Tropical Storm Arlene (1993) Tropical Depression One (1993) Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale

[edit] Pre-season forecasts

Forecasts of hurricane activity are issued before each hurricane season by Dr. William M. Gray and his associates at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Weather Research Center (WRC). A normal season as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has 12.1 named storms, of which 6.4 reach hurricane strength, and 2.7 become major hurricanes.[1]

[edit] Season activity

Overall, the season's activity was reflected with a cumulative accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 39.[2] ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total.[3]

[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)
Main article: Tropical Depression One (1993)

The first tropical depression of the season developed a day before the official season, on May 31. Developing from the interaction between a tropical wave and a monsoon-type circulation, Tropical Depression One brushed the Isle of Youth and quickly made landfall on Cuba later that day. After passing through the Bahamas on June 1, it became difficult for the National Hurricane Center to locate the low-level circulation, and Tropical Depression One transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on the following day. Seven people were reported dead in Cuba from heavy rains associated with the tropical depression, while another 13 fatalities occurred in Haiti.[4]

[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 June 19.[5] Landfall occurred on June 20 on Padre Island, and the system dissipated the next day.[6] Arlene caused six casualties and $55 million (1993 US$, $88.5 million 2012 USD) in damage from its heavy flooding and beach erosion. In addition, the precursor tropical wave killed 20 people in El Salvador.[7]

[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 duration. The storm tracked westward over Trinidad and a small portion of the Venezuelan coast on the August 7, and then back over the Caribbean Sea. The next day, Bret again crossed into Venezuela, and traveled into Colombia.[8] It weakened over the mountainous terrain, and after becoming a tropical depression over the Caribbean, Bret hit southern Nicaragua on the August 10 with 45 mph (72 km/h) winds. It crossed into the eastern Pacific and dissipated, although it later reformed into Hurricane Greg.[9] 184 people were killed from Bret, mostly in Venezuela, with heavy damage reported.[10]

[edit] Tropical Storm Cindy

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 14 – August 17
Intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  1007 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Cindy (1993)

Cindy became a named storm as a tropical depression crossed Martinique on August 14. The storm travelled west-northwest until its second landfall near Barahona[disambiguation needed ] in the Dominican Republic on August 16. It dissipated the next day. Heavy rainfall killed two in Martinique and two in the Dominican Republic. Specific damage estimates are not available.[11][12]

[edit] Tropical Storm Dennis

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

A tropical wave rapidly developed into the fifth tropical depression of the season on August 23. About twenty-four hours after formation, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis, while still situated in the far eastern Atlantic. Dennis tracked northwestward and eventually weakened back to a tropical depression on August 27. After weakened, Dennis began to curve westward, and dissipated on the August 28. Tropical Storm Dennis never affected land and no damage was reported.[13]

[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.[14] Hurricane Emily then turned back out to sea, and on September 6 became extratropical and dissipated.[15]

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 USD, $56.3 million 2012 USD).[16]

[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.[17] A poorly organized tropical storm, Floyd did not reach hurricane strength until late on the September 9 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 September 13 as an extratropical storm with 80 mph (130 km/h) winds.[18]

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 September 15, just before landfall near Bluefields, Nicaragua. Gert weakened back to a tropical depression, travelled across Nicaragua and Honduras,[19] 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 September 21,[20] having caused over $166 million in damage (1993 USD, $267 million 2012 USD) and killing 76 people.[7]

[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 September 21, the remnants were absorbed by a front.[21]

[edit] Tropical Depression Ten

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration September 29 – September 30
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  1008 mbar (hPa)

A wind current strengthened into the tenth and final tropical depression of the season southeast of Bermuda on September 29,[22] although operationally classified as such early on September 30.[23] The depression interacted with an approaching cold front, and accelerated north-northeast as a result. It did not strengthen as predicted,[24][25] and ended up merging with the cold front on the morning of October 1,[22] although the final advisory was issued late on September 30.[26] Despite passing very close to Bermuda, no effects were reported on the island in association with Tropical Depression Ten.[22]

[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 this list 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] Season effects

This is a table of the storms in the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season. It mentions all of the season's storms and their names, landfall(s), peak intensities, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect(an example of such being a traffic accident or landslide), but are still related to that storm. The damage and death totals in this list include impacts when the storm was a precursor wave or post-tropical low, and all of the damage figures are in 1993 USD.

Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
1993 North Atlantic tropical cyclone statistics
Storm
name		 Dates active Storm category

at peak intensity

 Max
wind

(mph)

 Min.
press.
(mbar)		 Landfall(s) Damage
(millions
USD)		 Deaths
Where When Wind

(mph)
One May 31 – June 2 Tropical depression 35 999 Western Cuba May 31 35 0  7 (0) 
Andros Island June 1 35
Arlene June 18 – June 21 Tropical storm 40 1006 Padre Island June 20 40 55  6 (20) 
Bret August 4 – August 11 Tropical storm 60 1002 Northern Venezuela August 7 60 25  184 
Bahia Punta Gorda, Nicaragua August 10 45
Cindy August 14 – August 17 Tropical storm 45 1007 Martinique August 14 35 0  4 
Santa Cruz de Barahona, Dominican Republic August 16 45
Dennis August 23 – August 28 Tropical storm 50 1000 none 0  0 
Emily August 22 – September 6 Category 3 hurricane 115 960 Hatteras Island, North Carolina (Direct hit, no landfall) August 31 115 35  0 (3) 
Floyd September 7 – September 10 Category 1 hurricane 75 990 none 0  0 
Gert September 14 – September 21 Category 2 hurricane 100 970 Bluefields, Nicaragua September 15 40 170  102 
Belize City, Belize September 16 45
Tuxpan, Veracruz September 20 100
Harvey September 18 – September 21 Category 1 hurricane 75 990 none 0  0 
Ten September 29 – October 1 Tropical depression 35 1008 none 0  0 
Season Aggregates
10 cyclones May 31 – October 1   115 960 11 landfalls 271 300

[edit] See also

Portal icon Tropical cyclones portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Climate Prediction Center (August 4, 2011). "Background information: the North Atlantic hurricane season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/background_information.shtml. Retrieved December 12, 2011. 
  2. ^ Hurricane Research Division (March 2011). "Atlantic basin Comparison of Original and Revised HURDAT". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/Comparison_of_Original_and_Revised_HURDAT_mar11.html. Retrieved December 12, 2011. 
  3. ^ David Levinson (August 20, 2008). "2005 Atlantic Ocean Tropical Cyclones". National Climatic Data Center. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/2005-atlantic-trop-cyclones.html. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 
  4. ^ Avila, Lixion (June 30, 1993). "Tropical Depression One Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td1/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  5. ^ Rappaport, Edward (December 9, 1993). "Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/arlene/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  6. ^ Rappaport, Edward (December 9, 1993). "Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/arlene/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  7. ^ a b Pasch, Richard; Rappaport Edward (1993). "Annual Summaries: Atlantic hurricane season of 1993". NOAA. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1993.pdf. Retrieved May 25, 2008. 
  8. ^ Pasch, Richard (November 22, 1993). "Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/bret/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  9. ^ Pasch, Richard (November 22, 1993). "Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/bret/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  10. ^ Pasch, Richard (November 22, 1993). "Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 3. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/bret/prenhc/prelim03.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  11. ^ Max Mayfield (October 25, 1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved May 26, 2008. 
  12. ^ Max Mayfield (October 25, 1993). "Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/cindy/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved May 27, 2008. 
  13. ^ Avila, Lixion (October 7, 1993). "Tropical Storm Dennis Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/dennis/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  14. ^ Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/emily/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  15. ^ Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/emily/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  16. ^ Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). "Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 3. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/emily/prenhc/prelim03.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  17. ^ Rappaport, Edward (October 6, 1993). "Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/floyd/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  18. ^ Rappaport, Edward (October 6, 1993). "Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/floyd/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  19. ^ Pasch, Richard (November 10, 1993). "Hurricane Gert Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 1. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/gert/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  20. ^ Pasch, Richard (November 10, 1993). "Hurricane Gert Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. p. 2. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/gert/prenhc/prelim02.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  21. ^ Mayfield, Max (October 19, 1993). "Hurricane Harvey Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/harvey/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  22. ^ a b c Lawrence, Miles (October 22, 1993). "Tropical Depression Ten Preliminary Report". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td10/prenhc/prelim01.gif. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  23. ^ Lawrence, Miles & Wright, Bill (September 30, 1993). "Tropical Depression Ten Discussion #1". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td10/tropdisc/nal1093.001. Retrieved December 18, 2010. 
  24. ^ Avila, Lixion (September 30, 1993). "Tropical Depression Ten Discussion #3". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td10/tropdisc/nal1093.003. Retrieved December 6, 2010. 
  25. ^ Pasch, Richard (September 30, 1993). "Tropical Depression Ten Discussion #2". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td10/tropdisc/nal1093.002. Retrieved December 6, 2010. 
  26. ^ Pasch, Richard (September 30, 1993). "Tropical Depression Ten Discussion #4". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1993/td10/tropdisc/nal1093.004. Retrieved December 6, 2010. 

[edit] External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
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