The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average, yet deadly Atlantic hurricane season, mainly due to Tropical Storm Bret and Hurricane Gert. The season produced ten tropical cyclones, eight tropical storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean. The first tropical cyclone, Tropical Depression One, developed on May 31, while the final storm, Tropical Depression Ten, dissipated on September 30, well before the average dissipation date of a season's last tropical cyclone; this represented the earliest end to the hurricane season in ten years.
The most intense hurricane, Emily, was a Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale that paralleled close to the North Carolina coastline causing minor damage and a few deaths before moving out to sea. The most destructive named storm of the season was Hurricane Gert, a tropical cyclone that devastated several countries in Central America and Mexico. Throughout the impact areas, damage totaled to $170 million (1993 USD) and 102 fatalities were reported. The remnants of Gert reached the Pacific Ocean and was classified as Tropical Depression Fourteen-E. The deadliest system was Tropical Storm Bret, which resulted in 184 deaths, in addition to causing $25 million in losses as it tracked generally westward across Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, and Nicaragua. In the Pacific Ocean, the remnants of Bret were attributed to the development of Hurricane Greg. Three other tropical cyclones brought minor to moderate effects on land; they were Tropical Depression One and Tropical Storms Arlene and Cindy. The storms of the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season collectively caused 382 fatalities and $322.3 million in losses.
Seasonal forecasts
Forecasts of hurricane activity are issued before each hurricane season by Dr. William M. Gray and his associates at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Weather Research Center (WRC). A normal season as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has 12.1 named storms, of which 6.4 reach hurricane strength, and 2.7 become major hurricanes. In December 1992, Gray anticipated a near average season with 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. Another predication on April 16, 1993 was unchanged from the previous forecast. In June, Gray revised the number of hurricanes to seven, though the forecast of named storms and major hurricanes remained the same. By August, the number hurricanes predicted was lowered back to six, matching the December 1992 and April forecasts. The sole prediction made by the WRC called for seven named storms and five hurricanes, though no forecast was made on the numbers of major hurricanes.
Season summary
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, thus activity began a day early with the development of Tropical Depression One on May 31. It was a below average season in which 10 tropical depressions formed. Eight of the depressions attained tropical storm status, and four of these attained hurricane status. In addition, one tropical cyclone eventually attained major hurricane status, which is below the 1981–2010 average of 2.7 per season. The low amount of activity is attributed to abnormally strong wind shear across the Atlantic basin. Only one hurricane and three tropical storms made landfall during the season; Tropical Depression One and Hurricane Emily also caused land impacts. However, the storm collectively caused 382 deaths and $322.3 million in damage. The last storm of the season, Tropical Depression Ten, became extratropical on September 30, two months before the official end of the season on November 30.
Tropical cyclogenesis in the 1993 Atlantic hurricane season began with the development of Tropical Depression One on May 31. However, in the following two months, minimal activity occurred, with only one named storm, Arlene, in June. August was the most active month, with four systems developing: Tropical Storms Bret, Cindy, and Dennis, as well as Hurricane Emily. September, normally the climatological peak of hurricane season, had only three named storms form: Hurricanes Floyd, Gert, and Harvey. The final Atlantic tropical cyclone of 1993, Tropical Depression Ten, became extratropical on September 30, two months before the official end of the season on November 30.
Overall, the season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 39. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph; 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength. Subtropical cyclones are excluded from the total.
Systems
Tropical Depression One
The origins of the tropical depression were from a tropical wave that exited the coast of Africa on May 13. It crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, reaching a position east of the Yucatan Peninsula by May 25. The system interacted with a monsoon-type circulation over Central America, and a broad low-level circulation developed near Cozumel, Mexico. Atmospheric pressure in the region fell gradually as the system organized, and on May 31, the National Hurricane Center classified it as Tropical Depression One near the Isle of Youth. At the time of being upgraded, the circulation was located on the northwest side of the convection due to wind shear. Throughout its duration, the depression maintained a northeast track, due to an approaching shortwave trough to its north. Late on May 31, the poorly organized center crossed western Cuba. By the time the circulation reached the Florida Straits, it was exposed and removed from the convection. The depression accelerated northeastward through the Bahamas, passing near Nassau. Based on Hurricane Hunters observations, it maintained stronger winds in squalls away from the center, and the pressure deepened to 999 mbar (999 hPa; 29.5 inHg). By June 2, reconnaissance flights into the system had difficulty discerning a circulation. Later that day, the National Hurricane Center discontinued advisories, as the depression had become extratropical. It strengthened slightly to reach gale-force winds as an extratropical storm, and persisted until early on June 3.
The precursor to the disturbance brought locally heavy rainfall to the Yucatán Peninsula, with a maximum of 7.09 inches (18.0 cm) in Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo. The depression produced intense precipitation across central and eastern Cuba, peaking at 12.4 inches (31 cm) in Topes de Collantes. In Victoria de Las Tunas, a rainfall total of 8.6 inches (22 cm) set the new record most rainfall in 24 hours. The rainfall caused flooding of rivers and lakes behind dams, and in some places, residents required rescue from the roofs of their houses. Officials forced the evacuation of 40,000 people in several provinces, and across the country, the storm destroyed 1,860 homes and damaged 16,500 more. The flooding blocked mountainous highways in Santiago de Cuba Province, and in Las Tunas Province railway lines were damaged. Widespread crop damage occurred just two months after the Storm of the Century left similar heavy damage. The flooding damaged 87 sugar production centers. The depression killed seven people in the country. After the storm passed, the Cuban government activated the Civil Defense, while National Relief Services worked to rescue all people affected by the flooding. Elsewhere along its path, heavy rainfall was reported in Jamaica, Hispaniola, and southern Florida. In Haiti, the rainfall caused 13 deaths and left thousands of livestock killed. In Florida, the precipitation peaked at 9.99 inches (25.4 cm) in Canal Point near Lake Okeechobee. The precipitation as a whole alleviated drought conditions.
Tropical Storm Arlene
A tropical wave was tracked in the Caribbean Sea beginning on June 9 and subsequently moved across Central America. Eventually, the system entered the Gulf of Mexico, though further development was interrupted by unfavorable wind shear. After conditions became somewhat more favorable, the wave developed into Tropical Depression Two on June 18. The depression slowly strengthened as it tracked west-northwestward and eventually north-northwestward across the western Gulf of Mexico. By June 19, the depression became Tropical Storm Arlene. At 09:00 UTC on the following day, Arlene made landfall on Padre Island, Texas with winds of 40 mph (64 km/h). The storm quickly weakened inland and degenerated into a remnant low pressure area on June 21.
In El Salvador, rainfall from the precursor tropical wave caused mudslides throughout the country, which in turn resulted in 20 fatalities. Immense amounts of precipitation in Mexico caused flooding in the states of Veracruz, Campeche, Yucatán, San Luis Potosí, Quintana Roo, Nuevo León, and Jalisco. Five deaths and $33 million in damage was reported in Mexico. Arlene also dropped torrential rainfall in Texas, peaking at 15.26 in (388 mm) Angleton, while precipitation amounts elsewhere was mainly between 9 and 11 in (230 and 280 mm). Throughout the state, numerous roads were inundated and more than 650 houses, including 25 mobile homes, suffered water damage. Agriculture losses in eastern Texas include 20% of cantaloupe, 10% of watermelon, and 18% of tomatoes. One fatality occurred and damage in Texas reached $22 million. Overall, Tropical Storm Arlene caused 26 deaths and $55 million in losses.
Tropical Storm Bret
A westward-moving tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Three while located about 1,150 miles (1,850 km) west of Cape Verde on August 4. The depression strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Bret on the following day. It strengthened slightly and reached winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) and maintained that intensity until crossing Trinidad on August 7. Later that day, Bret made landfall near Macuro, Venezuela, before briefly re-emerging into the Caribbean Sea. Bret made another landfall in Venezuela on August 8 and crossed northern Colombia. It weakened over the mountainous terrain and fell to tropical depression intensity over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Bret re-strengthened to a 45 mph (72 km/h) tropical storm before making landfall in southern Nicaragua on August 10. It crossed into the Pacific Ocean and dissipated, although it later regenerated into Hurricane Greg.
In Trinidad, winds left 35,000 people without electricity, while rainfall caused minor damage to crops and roads, with losses totaling to about $909,000. Rainfall in Venezuela reached 13.3 in (340 mm) in some areas. As a result, widespread mudslides were reported, which in turn destroyed 10,000 houses and caused 173 deaths. One fatality was reported in neighboring Colombia. In Nicaragua, the storm destroyed 850 houses and damaged an additional 1,500. Overall, 35,000 people were left homeless in that country. In addition, the destruction of 25 medical centers, 10 schools, and 10 churches occurred. Road infrastructure damage was also reported, with 12 bridges collapsing during the passage of Bret. There were 10 fatalities in Nicaragua, 9 of which were drowning victims after a Spanish vessel sank. Overall, Tropical Storm Bret caused 184 deaths and about $25 million in damage.
Tropical Storm Cindy
A tropical wave entered the Atlantic Ocean from northwest Africa on August 8. It traversed the Atlantic and organized into Tropical Depression Four on August 14, while located within 100 mi (160 km) to the north of Barbados. After six hours, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Cindy, while crossing the island of Martinique. Due to a poor upper-level structure, Cindy barely intensified as it tracked west-northwestward across the eastern Caribbean Sea. Nonetheless, the storm peaked with winds of 45 mph (72 km/h) on August 16. However, interaction with the terrain of Hispaniola caused Cindy to weaken. Late on August 16, the storm had been reduced to a tropical depression, around the time of landfall near Barahona, Dominican Republic. Cindy rapidly weakened inland and dissipated by early on August 17.
The storm dropped torrential rainfall in Martinique, peaking at 15.55 in (395 mm) in Saint-Joseph, which fell in only two hours. Further, 2.75 in (70 mm) fell in just six minutes. Several rivers overflowed as a result, which in turn caused widespread flooding and mudslides. Several roads were washed out, numerous cars were swept away, and at least 150 houses were destroyed, leaving about 3,000 people homeless. Overall, the storm caused two fatalities, 11 injuries, and ₣107 million (US$19 million) in damage. On other Lesser Antilles, the storm caused minimally impact, limited to mostly small amounts of precipitation, light winds, and minor beach erosion, especially on Puerto Rico. In Dominican Republic, street and minor river flooding was reported, which affected hundreds of residents. In addition, Cindy left two deaths in the Dominican Republic.