1994 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1994 – Nov 30, 1994 · Season ended
The 1994 East Pacific hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 203, 159% of the average.
1994 season at a glance
- Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5, including 3 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 202.6, 159% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 96.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Aletta, June 19.
- First hurricane: Carlotta, June 29.
- First major storm: Emilia, July 18.
- Last storm to dissipate: Rosa, October 15.
- All systems tracked: 19, including 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aletta | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Bud | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Carlotta | – | C2 | 967 mb | — |
| Daniel | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Emilia | – | C5 | 926 mb | — |
| Fabio | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Gilma | – | C5 | 920 mb | — |
| Li | – | C1 | 994 mb | — |
| Hector | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| John | – | C5 | 929 mb | — |
| Ileana | – | C1 | 986 mb | — |
| TD 12E | – | TD | — | — |
| Kristy | – | C2 | 992 mb | — |
| Lane | – | C4 | 948 mb | — |
| Miriam | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Norman | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Olivia | – | C4 | 923 mb | — |
| Paul | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Rosa | – | C2 | 974 mb | Isla del Bosque, Mexico |
- Aletta: Aletta formed in the East Pacific in June 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Bud: Bud formed in the East Pacific in June 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Carlotta: Carlotta formed in the East Pacific in June 1994 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Daniel: Daniel formed in the East Pacific in July 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Emilia: Emilia formed in the East Pacific in July 1994 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Fabio: Fabio formed in the East Pacific in July 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Gilma: Gilma formed in the East Pacific in July 1994 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Li: Li formed in the East Pacific in July 1994 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Hector: Hector formed in the East Pacific in August 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- John: John formed in the East Pacific in August 1994 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 929 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 31 days.
- Ileana: Ileana formed in the East Pacific in August 1994 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 12E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 1994 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Kristy: Kristy formed in the East Pacific in August 1994 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Lane: Lane formed in the East Pacific in September 1994 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Miriam: Miriam formed in the East Pacific in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Norman: Norman formed in the East Pacific in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Olivia: Olivia formed in the East Pacific in September 1994 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 923 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Paul: Paul formed in the East Pacific in September 1994 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Rosa: Rosa formed in the East Pacific in October 1994 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It made landfall near Isla del Bosque, Mexico. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1994
Hurricane John was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 175 mph (280 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 929 mb, on August 23. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
4 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 35% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1994
1 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- October 14: Rosa near Isla del Bosque, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
How 1994 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 8 other seasons), 11th for hurricanes (tied with 8 other seasons) and 7th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1994 storm names
The 1994 season used 18 names: Aletta, Bud, Carlotta, Daniel, Emilia, Fabio, Gilma, Li, Hector, John, Ileana, Kristy, Lane, Miriam, Norman, Olivia, Paul, Rosa.
1 system was tracked without a name and is 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 East Pacific hurricane season had 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 19 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Aletta and the last was Rosa.
What was the strongest storm of 1994?
Hurricane John. It peaked at 175 mph (280 km/h, 150 kt) with a lowest pressure of 929 mb on August 23. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 35% 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, Rosa, dissipated on October 15. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.