1994 Atlantic hurricane season

1994 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1994 Atlantic hurricane season was the final season in the most recent negative Atlantic multidecadal oscillation period of tropical cyclone formation. The season produced seven named tropical cyclones and three hurricanes, a total below the seasonal average. Aside from Chris, Florence, and Gordon, none of the storms exceeded tropical storm intensity. The low seasonal activity is attributed to the presence of El Niño, which is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon.

About 1994 Atlantic hurricane season in brief

Summary 1994 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1994 Atlantic hurricane season was the final season in the most recent negative Atlantic multidecadal oscillation period of tropical cyclone formation. The season produced seven named tropical cyclones and three hurricanes, a total below the seasonal average. Despite the below average activity, the season was very deadly, with most of the deaths occurring during Hurricane Gordon. The most intense hurricane, Hurricane Florence, peaked as a Category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph. Aside from Chris, Florence, and Gordon, none of the storms exceeded tropical storm intensity. The low seasonal activity is attributed to the presence of El Niño, which is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. It was one of only five Atlantic hurricane seasons without major hurricanes, the others being the 1968, 1972, 1986, and 2013 seasons, although records before 1944 are incomplete. No storms of hurricane intensity formed within the months of September and October for the first time since reliable records began in the 1940s. However, the month of November did feature two hurricane formations, the first such occurrence since 1980. A nor’easter in December may have had tropical characteristics, though due to the uncertainty, it was not classified as a tropical system. The 1994 forecast predicted that a total of 10 storms would form, of which six of the storm would reach hurricane status. The forecast also projected that three of the hurricanes would reach major hurricane status, and that no major hurricanes would form.

The first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Alberto, developed on June 30, while the last storm, Hurricane Gordon, dissipated on November 21. It is estimated that 1,122 people died in Haiti as a result of Gordon, which caused severe flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean Sea, the Greater Antilles, and the United States. Tropical Storm Beryl produced heavy rainfall in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, with moderate to heavy rainfall throughout several other states. It triggered some of the worst flooding ever observed across portions of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The storm was the worst storm to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It produced significant rainfall and flooding in the Southeastern United States, damaging or destroying over 18,000 homes. It became a tropical depression over Alabama on July 7, and dissipated over northwestern Georgia on July 8. It began a westward drift over northwestern Florida on July 9, causing the remnant tropical depression to drift and drift over central Alabama. It then weakened to a tropical storm over Alabama as it continued to slow to a slow motion. On July 10, it became Tropical Storm Storm Alberto. It made landfall near Destin, Florida with 65 mph winds and made landfall on July 11. It weakened to tropical storm status on July 12, with 65-mph winds. It died on July 13, and on July 14, Alberto was downgraded to tropical depression status. In July, Alberto became a weak tropical storm with 65mph winds, and it dissipated.