During 1994, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins, located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 124 systems formed with 91 of these developing further and were named by the responsible warning centre. The strongest tropical cyclone of the year was Cyclone Geralda, which was estimated to have a minimum barometric pressure of . The deadliest tropical cyclone was Typhoon Fred, which caused 1,248 fatalities in China, while the costliest was Tropical Storm Sharon, which caused an estimated $5.27 billion USD in damage after striking Hong Kong, China and the Philippines. Five Category 5 tropical cyclones formed in 1994. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for 1994 (seven basins combined), as calculated by Colorado State University was 1019 units.
Tropical cyclone activity in each basin is under the authority of an RSMC. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is responsible for tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and East Pacific. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) is responsible for tropical cyclones in the Central Pacific. Both the NHC and CPHC are subdivisions of the National Weather Service. Activity in the West Pacific is monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Systems in the North Indian Ocean are monitored by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Météo-France located in Réunion (MFR) monitors tropical activity in the South-West Indian Ocean. The Australian region is monitored by five TCWCs that are under the coordination of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Similarly, the South Pacific is monitored by both the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) and the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited. Other, unofficial agencies that provide additional guidance in tropical cyclone monitoring include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).
Global conditions and hydrological summary El Nino developed during spring and lasted until near autumn.
Summary
Systems January
+ Tropical cyclones formed in January 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths Refs01W (Akang)January 4–555 (35)1004Philippines$2.4 million4507PJanuary 6–855 (35)1002Solomon IslandsNoneNoneDaisyJanuary 7–16155 (100)935St. Brandon, MadagascarUnknownUnknownPearl-FarahJanuary 10–21155 (100)960Western AustraliaNoneNoneEdmeaJanuary 13–1995 (60)976NoneNoneNoneSarahJanuary 22 – February 4165 (105)945Vanuatu, New CaledoniaUnknownUnknownQuentonJanuary 22–29150 (90)955NoneNoneNoneGeraldaJanuary 26 – February 8205 (125)905Madagascar>$10 million231SadieJanuary 29–3185 (50)985Northern Territory, QueenslandNoneNone
February
February was an extremely inactive month, featuring only 4 systems, of which all were named. Hollanda was the first storm of the month, peaking as a Category-3 equivalent cyclone and causing strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall on the Mascarene Islands and causing 2 deaths. Ivy and Julita formed afterwards, with Ivy peaking as a Category-3 equivalent cyclone and Julita making landfall on Madagascar. Cyclone Theodore was the last and strongest storm of the month, crossing over into the South Pacific basin and peaking as a Category-4 equivalent cyclone. + Tropical cyclones formed in February 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsHollandaFebruary 6–14155 (100)940Mauritius, Réunion$135 million2IvyFebruary 8–20140 (85)950RodriguesMinimalNoneJulitaFebruary 15–1855 (35)995MadagascarMinimalNoneTheodoreFebruary 22 – March 3215 (130)910Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New CaledoniaUnknown1
March
+ Tropical cyclones formed in March 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsKelvinaMarch 5–1185 (50)985Madagascar, Mascarene IslandsUnknown0LitanneMarch 7–19195 (120)910Madagascar, Mascarene IslandsUnknown0MariolaMarch 10–19115 (70)966NoneUnknown0SharonMarch 12–22195 (120)930Western AustraliaNoneNoneTomasMarch 19–27155 (100)955Vanuatu, FijiUnknownNoneNadiaMarch 16 – April 1175 (110)925Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi$20.2 million252BOB 01March 21–2445 (30)Not specifiedNoneNoneNoneUshaMarch 24 – April 495 (60)980Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New CaledoniaUnknownNoneTimMarch 28 – April 365 (40)995NoneNoneNoneOdilleMarch 30 – April 14175 (110)925Mascarene IslandsUnknown0Owen (Bising)March 31 – April 9110 (70)980Caroline Islands, PhilippinesUnknown10
April
+ Tropical cyclones formed in April 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsVivienneApril 5–13150 (90)955NoneNoneNone29PApril 24–2555 (35)1000Solomon IslandsNoneNoneWillyApril 26 – May 195 (60)985Cocos IslandsNoneNoneBOB 02April 26 – May 3215 (130)940Bangladesh, Northeast India, Myanmar$125 million350
May
May was the least active month of 1994, featuring only 3 systems, of which only 1 was named. Typhoon Page, the first and strongest storm of the month, formed on May 12 and stayed out to sea, peaking as a Category-2 equivalent cyclone. Deling formed on May 25, causing 5 deaths in the Philippines. A tropical depression was the last storm of the month. + Tropical cyclones formed in May 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsPage (Klaring)May 12–17130 (80)965Caroline IslandsNoneNone04W (Deling)May 25–2655 (35)1004PhilippinesNone5TDMay 27Not specified1004NoneNoneNone
June
+ Tropical cyclones formed in June 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsRuss (Emang)June 3–995 (60)985China$728 million74ARB 01June 5–9100 (65)980Western India, OmanNoneNoneAlettaJune 18–2385 (50)999NoneNoneNoneSharon (Gading)June 21–2575 (45)996Philippines, South China$5.27 billion13HelingJune 25–29Not specified1002Philippines, VietnamNoneNoneBudJune 27–2975 (45)1003NoneNoneNoneCarlottaJune 23 – July 5165 (105)967Socorro Island, Revillagigedo IslandsNoneNoneAlbertoJune 30 – July 7100 (65)993Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Georgia$1.03 billion32
November
+ Tropical cyclones formed in November 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsFlorenceNovember 2–8175 (110)972NoneNoneNoneDepressionNovember –45 (30)Not specifiedSouthern IndiaNoneNoneGordonNovember 8–21140 (85)980Central America, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, Mid-Atlantic states$594 million1152VaniaNovember 10–19100 (65)980VanuatuMinimalNoneARB 02November 15–20120 (75)984SomaliaUnknown30AlbertineNovember 23 – December 3175 (110)925Mascarene IslandsUnknownNone
December
+ Tropical cyclones formed in December 1994 Storm name Dates active Max windkm/h (mph) Pressure(hPa) Areas affected Damage(USD) Deaths RefsAnnetteDecember 12–20185 (115)925Western AustraliaMinorNone04PDecember 13–1765 (40)997Fiji, TongaUnknownUnknownAxel (Garding)December 14–27155 (100)950Caroline Islands, PhilippinesNone19BobbieDecember 18–2695 (60)985Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands, Mariana IslandsNoneNoneChristelleDecember 27 – January 1185 (50)980Madagascar, Mascarene IslandsUnknownNoneWilliamDecember 30 – January 3110 (70)975Cook Islands, French Polynesia$2.5 millionNone
Global effects Season name Areas affected Systems formed Named storms Damage (USD) Deaths1994 Atlantic hurricane season 5Southeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic states, New England, Bermuda, Lesser Antilles, Central America, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, Southern United States, Mid-Atlantic states127~ $1.93 billion1,1891994 Pacific hurricane season 5Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Baja California Peninsula, Southwestern Mexico, Western Mexico, Southwestern United States2220$720 million41994 Pacific typhoon seasonPhilippines, Caroline Islands, South China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Mariana Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Korean Peninsula, East China, Russian Far East, Wake Island, Marshall Islands5034$8.14 billion1,3011994 North Indian Ocean cyclone season 4Bangladesh, Northeast India, Myanmar, Western India, Oman, Pakistan, Somalia84>$240 million7221993–94 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2 6Mauritius, Reunion, St. Brandon, Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Mozambique, Malawi1110>$165 million4951994–95 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 3 6Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues321993–94 Australian region cyclone season 2Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Cocos (Keeling) Islands98221994–95 Australian region cyclone season 3Western Australia11MinorNone1993–94 South Pacific cyclone season 2Solomon Islands, Fiji53NoneNone1994–95 South Pacific cyclone season 3Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, French Polynesia32$2.5 millionNoneWorldwide(See above)> $11.2 billion3,733
Notes 2 Only systems that formed either on or after January 1, 1994 are counted in the seasonal totals. 3 Only systems that formed either before or on December 31, 1994 are counted in the seasonal totals.4 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the IMD Scale which uses 3-minute sustained winds. 5 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the Saffir Simpson Scale which uses 1-minute sustained winds. 6 The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on Météo-France which uses wind gusts.
References
External links
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers US National Hurricane Center – North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific Central Pacific Hurricane Center – Central Pacific Japan Meteorological Agency – NW Pacific India Meteorological Department – Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea Météo-France – La Reunion – South Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E Fiji Meteorological Service – South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia – South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 141°E, generally north of 10°S Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane) – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, generally south of 10°S Papua New Guinea National Weather Service – South Pacific Ocean from 141°E to 160°E, generally north of 10°S Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited – South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S