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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Timeline Of The 1994 Pacific Hurricane Season
The 1994 Pacific hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclogenesis over the Pacific Ocean north of the Equator and east of the International Date Line. The official bounds of each Pacific hurricane season are dates that conventionally delimit the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center, beginning on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific proper (east of 140°W) and on June 1 in the Central Pacific (140°W to the International Date Line), and ending on November 30 in both areas. Activity in the 1994 season was considerably greater than average, particularly in the Central Pacific; tropical cyclones generally formed and intensified farther west than normal due in part to above-average sea surface temperatures over the southeastern portion of the Central Pacific and the prevalence of a large anticyclone near 140°W for much of July and August. El Niño conditions, which tend to cause increased tropical cyclone activity over the Pacific Ocean, were also present. Despite the high activity, the season had an unusually late start; it did not commence until the formation of Tropical Storm Aletta on June 18. The season ended on October 26 with the dissipation of Tropical Storm Nona.

A total of 22 tropical depressions formed, with all but two strengthening into named tropical storms; ten became hurricanes, of which five became major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale). Three hurricanes – Emilia, Gilma, and John – reached Category 5 intensity, the highest rating on the scale. This set a record for most Category 5 hurricanes in one season since records began in 1971, which would later be tied in 2002 and 2018. Hurricane John traversed the Pacific Ocean for 8,190 miles (13,180 km), making it the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone on record worldwide. Lasting for 30 days, John was also the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record globally until Cyclone Freddy, which spent at least 34 days as a tropical cyclone in February and March 2023. The storms of the 1994 season collectively generated an Accumulated Cyclone Energy index of 185.2 units, which is the eleventh-highest on record for a Pacific hurricane season as of March 2024.

Only one tropical cyclone, Hurricane Rosa in October, caused fatalities or made landfall during the 1994 season. It struck the Mexican state of Sinaloa at Category 2 strength, killing five people in the country. Proceeding rapidly northeastward across Mexico and into the United States after landfall, the storm and its remnants caused disastrous flooding in southeastern Texas that claimed more than 20 lives and wrought at least $700 million (1994 USD) in damage. Earlier in the season, Tropical Depression One-C and Hurricane John caused minor impacts in the Central Pacific. Heavy rainfall from One-C generated substantial flooding on the Big Island of Hawaii, resulting in damages estimated at up to $5 million (1994 USD). After weakening greatly from its peak intensity, John passed about 15 mi (25 km) to the north of Johnston Atoll as a strong Category 1 hurricane; high winds caused $15 million (1994 USD) in damage.

Four time zones are utilized in the Eastern Pacific basin. They are, from east to west: Central east of 106°W; Mountain from 106°W to 114.9°W; Pacific from 115°W to 139.9°W; and Hawaii−Aleutian from 140°W to the International Date Line. For convenience, each event is listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first, using the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC), with the respective local time included in parentheses. Figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (knots, miles, or kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury. This timeline documents the formation of tropical cyclones as well as the strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It also includes information that was not released while the storm was active, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is included.

Timeline of events

Hurricane Rosa (1994)Hurricane John (1994)Hurricane Gilma (1994)Hurricane Emilia (1994)Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

May

May 15

  • The 1994 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
  • No tropical cyclones formed in May.

June

June 1

  • The 1994 Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins.

June 18

A track map of a tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean; the storm generally moves west-northwestward
Storm path of Tropical Storm Aletta

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 23

June 27

A satellite image of a tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Bud shortly after being upgraded and receiving a name late on June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

A satellite image of a hurricane over the Eastern Pacific Ocean with a clear eye and spiral bands of thick clouds
Satellite image of Hurricane Carlotta near peak intensity late on June 30

July

July 1

July 2

July 4

July 5

July 8

A satellite image of a tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Daniel near peak intensity late on July 10

July 9

July 11

July 14

July 16

A track map of the west-northwestward path of a hurricane over the Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean
Storm path of Hurricane Emilia

July 17

July 18

July 19

A close-up satellite image of a powerful hurricane's eye with smaller cloud swirls inside
The eye of Hurricane Emilia as seen from satellite on July 19, with mesovortices visible

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

A track map of the westward path of a tropical storm over the Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean
Storm path of Tropical Storm Fabio

July 24

July 25

A satellite image of a powerful hurricane over the Central Pacific Ocean; it has a circular eye, a thick and round central region of clouds, and pronounced spiral bands on its eastern flank
Satellite image of Hurricane Gilma at peak intensity late on July 24

July 26

July 27

July 30

July 31

August

August 2

A track map of a tropical cyclone that traversed a portion of the Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean as a tropical depression; it eventually became a minimal hurricane for a brief period of time, just before it crossed the International Date Line. Though it has several dips and rises, the system's track generally represents a westward trajectory overall.
Storm path of Hurricane Li, including the time it spent west of the International Date Line from August 12 to August 18

August 3

August 7

August 8

A satellite image of a tropical storm off the west coast of the southern Baja California peninsula
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Hector just after peak intensity late on August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

A track map of the westward path of a tropical depression over the Central Pacific Ocean, just south of Hawaii
Storm path of Tropical Depression One-C

August 12

A satellite image of a hurricane with a ragged and cloudy eye just southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula
Satellite image of Hurricane Ileana at peak intensity late on August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

A track map of a tropical depression over the Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. The system's path starts with a slow north-northeastward motion; as it accelerates, the system gradually turns to the west, which results in the overall track resembling a fish hook.
Storm path of Tropical Depression Twelve-E

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

A satellite image of a powerful hurricane south of the Big Island of Hawaii. It has a clear and well-defined eye surrounded by a circular area of intense convection; a pronounced outer band originates from the western side of the storm and curves clockwise a quarter of the way around it, before jutting out to the east.
Satellite image of Hurricane John near peak intensity south of Hawaii early on August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 30

A satellite image of a hurricane over the Central Pacific Ocean. It has a clear but ragged eye surrounded by deep but somewhat lopsided convection which is mostly concentrated in the northeastern quadrant; an arc of thin high clouds begins on the system's south side, curving around the western flank.
Satellite image of Hurricane Kristy near peak intensity late on August 31

August 31

September

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

A satellite image of a powerful hurricane over the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with a cloudy but well-defined eye, a central region of deep convection marked by thick clouds, and several spiral bands; a large arc of thin high clouds is fanning out to the northwest of the hurricane
Satellite image of Hurricane Lane near peak intensity late on September 6

September 5

September 6

September 7

A satellite image of a tropical depression on the cusp of becoming a tropical storm over the Central Pacific Ocean
Satellite image of Tropical Depression Two-C late on September 6, shortly the system became a tropical storm and received the name Mele

September 8

September 9

September 10

A track map of a hurricane over much of the Pacific Ocean. It is generally westward at first, except for two brief northwest turns early in the system's life. It then gradually curves into a more prolonged northwestward motion, which ends with an abrupt turn to the east as it slows down greatly. A hairpin turn results in the system resuming a northwestward trajectory; finally, it turns northeastward and accelerates, meeting its demise over the far northern Central Pacific basin.
Storm path of Hurricane John, including the time it spent west of the International Date Line from August 28 to September 8

September 15

September 17

September 18

A track map of a tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean; the system initially moves west-northwestward before turning to the west-southwest midway through its life
Storm path of Tropical Storm Miriam

September 19

September 20

September 21

A track map of a tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of Mexico; the system initially moves northwestward at a brisk pace, slowing down and turning northward later in its life
Storm path of Tropical Storm Norman

September 22

September 24

September 25

A satellite image of a powerful hurricane over the Eastern Pacific Ocean; it has a well-defined eye surrounded by thick, intense convection, with pronounced spiral bands extending southward from the storm and multiple arcs of thin high clouds fanning out to the northwest
Satellite image of Hurricane Olivia near peak intensity on September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

A satellite image of a minimal tropical storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Paul just prior to peak intensity late on September 26

September 29

September 30

October

October 8

October 11

October 12

A satellite image of a hurricane approaching the west coast of Mexico; its eye is surrounded by convection spiraling inwards, and there is a large region of clouds fanning out to the north
Satellite image of a strengthening Hurricane Rosa approaching the Mexican coast on October 13

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 21

A satellite image of a tropical depression over the Central Pacific Ocean
Satellite image of Tropical Depression Three-C, which would later become a tropical storm and receive the name Nona, on October 22

October 25

October 26

November

  • No tropical cyclones were active in November.

November 30

  • The 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially ends.