Timeline of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation over the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator. The official bounds of each Atlantic hurricane season are dates that conventionally delineate the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center, beginning on June 1 and ending on November 30.[1] However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as evidenced by the development of Tropical Depression One on May 31,[2] one day before the official start of the season. By contrast, the dissipation of Tropical Depression Ten on September 30 effectively concluded the season two months before it officially ended.[1][3] September 21 was the final date on which a system of at least tropical storm strength was active; this was described in a 1995 retrospective from Monthly Weather Review as the earliest such occurrence since 1930.[nb 1][5]: 871  Seasonal activity was below average – of the season's 10 tropical depressions, eight strengthened further to become named tropical storms and four became hurricanes, compared to contemporary long-term averages of 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes, and modern averages of 14 tropical storms and seven hurricanes.[1][5]: 871  Hurricane Emily was the only Atlantic major hurricane in 1993;[nb 2] this is slightly below the contemporary average of two major hurricanes per season, while modern seasons produce three on average.[1][6]

Timeline of the
1993 Atlantic hurricane season
A map of all tropical cyclones during the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season
Season summary map
Season boundaries
First system formedMay 31, 1993
Last system dissipatedSeptember 30, 1993
Strongest system
NameEmily
Maximum winds115 mph (185 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure960 mbar (hPa; 28.35 inHg)
Longest lasting system
NameEmily
Duration14.75 days
Storm articles
Other years
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

The two most impactful systems of the season were Tropical Storm Bret and Hurricane Gert; more than 300 people were killed by the combined effects of both storms. Bret became a catastrophic storm for Venezuela after extreme rainfall triggered widespread flooding and mudslides in the Caracas area, causing significant impacts in Nicaragua as well; the latter country would suffer renewed flooding from Gert just over a month later. After hitting Nicaragua, Gert—a sprawling and moisture-laden tropical cyclone—generated heavy rainfall over a large portion of Central America and Mexico.[5]: 877, 883, 885 [7][8] Several other tropical cyclones caused extensive flooding during the season. Tropical Depression One and the precursor to Tropical Storm Arlene each killed 20 people, the former in Cuba and Haiti,[2][9] and the latter due to a single mudslide in El Salvador. After becoming a tropical cyclone, Arlene caused considerable flood damage in South Texas and northeastern Mexico.[10] In August, Tropical Storm Cindy produced more than a foot (12 in; 30.48 cm) of rain in Martinique.[11] At the end of the month, the western eyewall of Hurricane Emily passed over the Outer Banks of North Carolina while the storm was near its peak intensity; powerful winds and record-breaking floods caused three fatalities and heavy but localized damage.[5]: 871, 881 

By convention, meteorologists use one time zone, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), when issuing forecasts and making observations; they also use the 24-hour clock, where 00:00 = midnight UTC.[12] The National Hurricane Center uses both UTC and the time zone where the center of the tropical cyclone is presently located. Prior to 2020, three time zones were utilized in forecast products for Atlantic tropical cyclones: Atlantic, Eastern, and Central, from east to west.[13]

In this timeline, all information is listed by UTC first, with the respective regional time zone included in parentheses. Additionally, 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 tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It includes information that was not released throughout the season, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center has been included.

Timeline of events

edit
Hurricane GertHurricane Emily (1993)Tropical Storm Cindy (1993)Tropical Storm Bret (1993)Tropical Storm Arlene (1993)Tropical Depression One (1993)Saffir–Simpson scale

May 31

edit
 
Satellite image of Tropical Depression One at peak intensity on June 1

June

edit

June 1

edit

June 2

edit

June 18

edit

June 19

edit
 
Storm path of Tropical Storm Arlene

June 20

edit

June 21

edit

July

edit
  • No tropical cyclones were active in July.

August

edit

August 4

edit
 
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Bret near peak intensity on August 6

August 5

edit

August 6

edit

August 7

edit

August 8

edit

August 9

edit
 
Storm path of Tropical Storm Bret

August 10

edit

August 11

edit

August 14

edit
 
Storm path of Tropical Storm Cindy

August 16

edit

August 17

edit

August 22

edit

August 23

edit
 
Storm path of Tropical Storm Dennis

August 24

edit

August 25

edit

August 26

edit

August 27

edit
 
Satellite image of Hurricane Emily brushing the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a major hurricane on August 31

August 28

edit

August 29

edit

August 31

edit

September

edit

September 1

edit
 
Storm path of Hurricane Emily

September 3

edit

September 4

edit

September 6

edit

September 7

edit
 
Satellite image of Hurricane Floyd late on September 9

September 8

edit

September 9

edit

September 10

edit

September 14

edit

September 15

edit
 
Storm path of Hurricane Gert

September 16

edit

September 17

edit

September 18

edit
 
Satellite image of Hurricane Gert approaching the Gulf coast of Mexico on September 20

September 19

edit

September 20

edit
 
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Harvey shortly before becoming a hurricane on September 20

September 21

edit

September 29

edit
 
Storm path of Tropical Depression Ten

September 30

edit

October

edit
  • No tropical cyclones were active in October.

November

edit
  • No tropical cyclones were active in November.

November 30

edit
  • The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends.[1]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ At the time, the 1930 Atlantic hurricane season was believed to have ended with the dissipation of the 1930 San Zenón hurricane on September 17. In 2010, as part of the ongoing Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project, an October tropical storm was discovered and added to the Atlantic hurricane database.[4]
  2. ^ A major hurricane is an Atlantic or Pacific hurricane that reaches Category 3 or higher on the five-level Saffir–Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph (179 km/h).[1]
  3. ^ Operationally, Bret was redesignated as Tropical Depression Eight-E late on August 10 in anticipation that it would emerge over the Pacific Ocean as a tropical cyclone, though this did not occur.[21] The remnants of Bret regenerated into a tropical cyclone on August 15, which became Hurricane Greg of the 1993 Pacific hurricane season.[22]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Avila, Lixion (June 30, 1993). Tropical Depression One Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Lawrence, Miles (October 22, 1993). Tropical Depression Ten Preliminary Report (GIF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Landsea, Christopher W.; et al. (December 2012). Documentation of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Changes in HURDAT. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (Report). Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Pasch, Richard J.; Rappaport, Edward N. (March 1, 1995). "Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1993". Monthly Weather Review. 123 (3). American Meteorological Society: 871–886. Bibcode:1995MWRv..123..871P. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1995)123<0871:AHSO>2.0.CO;2.
  6. ^ Gray, William M. (November 19, 1993). "Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity for 1994" (PDF). Colorado State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  7. ^ GEO Centroamérica Perpectivas del medio ambiente 2004 (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Geneva, Switzerland: Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente. 2004. p. 101. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Mexico: Tropical Storm Oct 1993 – UN DHA Situation Reports 1–3. ReliefWeb (Report). Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. October 1, 1993. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hurricane season". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. June 6, 1993. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Rappaport, Edward N. (December 9, 1993). Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report (Page Three) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Mayfield, Max (October 25, 1993). Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  12. ^ "Understanding the Date/Time Stamps". Silver Spring, Maryland: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "Update on National Hurricane Center Products and Services for 2020" (PDF). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. April 20, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d Avila, Lixion (June 30, 1993). Tropical Depression One Preliminary Report (Page Three) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Rappaport, Edward N. (December 9, 1993). Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e Rappaport, Edward N. (December 9, 1993). Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report (Page Five) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d Rappaport, Edward N. (December 9, 1993). Tropical Storm Arlene Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Pasch, Richard J. (November 22, 1993). Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pasch, Richard J. (November 22, 1993). Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report (Page Seven) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Pasch, Richard J. (November 22, 1993). Tropical Storm Bret Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Mayfield, Max (August 10, 1993). Tropical Depression Eight-E Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  22. ^ Pasch, Richard J. (November 28, 1993). Hurricane Greg Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e Mayfield, Max (October 25, 1993). Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e Mayfield, Max (October 25, 1993). Tropical Storm Cindy Preliminary Report (Page Three) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report (Page Five) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e Avila, Lixion (October 7, 1993). Tropical Storm Dennis Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d e Avila, Lixion (October 7, 1993). Tropical Storm Dennis Preliminary Report (Page Three) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c d e Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report (Page Six) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c Lawrence, Miles (September 30, 1993). Hurricane Emily Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c Rappaport, Edward N. (October 6, 1993). Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d e Rappaport, Edward N. (October 6, 1993). Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page Four) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Rappaport, Edward N. (October 6, 1993). Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d Pasch, Richard J. (November 10, 1993). Hurricane Gert Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Pasch, Richard J. (November 10, 1993). Hurricane Gert Preliminary Report (Page Five) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Pasch, Richard J. (November 10, 1993). Hurricane Gert Preliminary Report (Page Two) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d e Mayfield, Max (October 19, 1993). Hurricane Harvey Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  38. ^ a b c d e Mayfield, Max (October 19, 1993). Hurricane Harvey Preliminary Report (Page Three) (GIF) (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  39. ^ Rappaport, Edward (September 29, 1993). Tropical Depression Fourteen-E Preliminary Report (Page One) (GIF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
edit