1994 Atlantic hurricane season
Jun 1, 1994 – Nov 30, 1994 · Season ended
The 1994 Atlantic hurricane season produced 7 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 32, 26% of the average.
1994 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 3 (average 7.2).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 3.2).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 32.1, 26% of the 123 average.
- Named-storm days: 28.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alberto, July 2.
- First hurricane: Chris, August 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Gordon, November 21.
- All systems tracked: 12, including 5 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 1994 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberto | – | TS | 993 mb | Destin, United States |
| TD 2L | – | TD | 1015 mb | Georgetown, United States |
| Beryl | – | TS | 999 mb | Panama City, United States |
| Chris | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| TD 5L | – | TD | 1005 mb | Altamira, Mexico |
| Debby | – | TS | 1006 mb | Castries, Saint Lucia |
| Ernesto | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| TD 8L | – | TD | 1004 mb | Bella Vista, Belize |
| TD 9L | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| TD 10L | – | TD | 1004 mb | — |
| Florence | – | C2 | 972 mb | — |
| Gordon | – | C1 | 980 mb | Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua |
- Alberto: Alberto formed in the Atlantic in June 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Destin, United States. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1015 mb. It made landfall near Georgetown, United States. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Beryl: Beryl formed in the Atlantic in August 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It made landfall near Panama City, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Chris: Chris formed in the Atlantic in August 1994 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 5L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It made landfall near Altamira, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Debby: Debby formed in the Atlantic in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It made landfall near Castries, Saint Lucia. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Ernesto: Ernesto formed in the Atlantic in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 8L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Bella Vista, Belize. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 10L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Florence: Florence formed in the Atlantic in November 1994 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Gordon: Gordon formed in the Atlantic in November 1994 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made 6 landfalls, first near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua and last near Cape Canaveral, United States. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1994
Hurricane Florence was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 110 mph (175 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 972 mb, on November 8. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
134 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 34% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1994
7 of the season’s 12 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 3: Alberto near Destin, United States, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- July 20: TD 2L near Georgetown, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 16: Beryl near Panama City, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- August 31: TD 5L near Altamira, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 10: Debby near Castries, Saint Lucia, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- September 25: TD 8L near Bella Vista, Belize, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 10: Gordon near Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- November 13: Gordon near Kingston, Jamaica, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- November 13: Gordon near Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- November 15: Gordon near Key West, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- November 16: Gordon near Cape Coral, United States, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- November 21: Gordon near Cape Canaveral, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 1994 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 42nd of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 40th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 44th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.
1994 storm names
The 1994 season used 7 names: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1994 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1994?
The 1994 Atlantic hurricane season had 7 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, from 12 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Alberto and the last was Gordon.
What was the strongest storm of 1994?
Hurricane Florence. It peaked at 110 mph (175 km/h, 95 kt) with a lowest pressure of 972 mb on November 8. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 134 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 34% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1994 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1994, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Gordon, dissipated on November 21. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.