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. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as evidenced by the development of Tropical Depression One on May 31, 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. 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. 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. Hurricane Emily was the only Atlantic major hurricane in 1993; this is slightly below the contemporary average of two major hurricanes per season, while modern seasons produce three on average.

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. 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, 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. In August, Tropical Storm Cindy produced more than a foot (12 in; 30.48 cm) of rain in Martinique. 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.

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. 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.

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

May May 31

12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression One forms from an interaction between a tropical wave and a monsoonal gyre about 60 mi (95 km) west of the Isle of Youth. Later in the day, the system traverses central Cuba.

June June 1 The 1993 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins. 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. EDT, May 31) at Tropical Depression One emerges over the Straits of Florida about 65 mi (100 km) east of Varadero, Cuba. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression One reaches maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 290 mi (465 km) northeast of Varadero, Cuba.

June 2 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression One transitions into an extratropical cyclone, strengthening to gale force as it does so, about 795 mi (1,280 km) east-northeast of Varadero, Cuba.

June 18 00:00 UTC (7:00 p.m. CDT, June 17) at Tropical Depression Two forms from an area of disturbed weather over the Bay of Campeche.

June 19

12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Two develops a new center of circulation as the old center dissipates about 115 mi (185 km) to the southeast. The overall system strengthens into Tropical Storm Arlene about 155 mi (250 km) southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas; it simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of .

June 20 09:00 UTC (4:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Arlene makes landfall over Padre Island, Texas, with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a barometric pressure of . 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Arlene weakens into a tropical depression about 45 mi (75 km) southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas.

June 21 06:00 UTC (1:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Arlene is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 70 mi (110 km) southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas; it degenerates into a remnant low six hours later.

July No tropical cyclones were active in July.

August August 4

12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at A tropical depression forms from a tropical wave about 1,115 mi (1,855 km) west-southwest of Cape Verde.

August 5 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST, August 4) at The tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Bret about 1,215 mi (1,955 km) east of Trinidad.

August 6 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Bret reaches maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) about 570 mi (915 km) east of Trinidad.

August 7 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST, August 6) at Tropical Storm Bret reaches a minimum barometric pressure of about 185 mi (295 km) east of Trinidad. 07:00 UTC (3:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall near Galera Point in northern Trinidad with sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a barometric pressure of . 10:00 UTC (6:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall near Macuro, Venezuela, with sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a barometric pressure of . It reemerges over water ten hours later, remaining close to the northern coast of Venezuela.

August 8 08:00 UTC (4:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall near Chichiriviche, Venezuela, with sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a barometric pressure of .

August 9

06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Bret emerges over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Storm Bret weakens into a tropical depression about 410 mi (660 km) east of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua.

August 10 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. EDT) at Tropical Depression Bret restrengthens into a tropical storm about 165 mi (270 km) east of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua. 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Bret reaches its secondary peak intensity about 85 mi (140 km) east-southeast of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua, with sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a barometric pressure of . 17:00 UTC (12:00 p.m. CDT) at Tropical Storm Bret makes landfall about 30 mi (45 km) south of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua, at its secondary peak intensity.

August 11 00:00 UTC (7:00 p.m. CDT, August 10) at Tropical Storm Bret weakens back into a tropical depression inland about 80 mi (130 km) west of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua. 12:00 UTC (7:00 a.m. CDT) at Tropical Depression Bret is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 205 mi (335 km) west-northwest of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua; it dissipates six hours later while located just inland from the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

August 14

12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at A tropical depression forms from a tropical wave about 110 mi (175 km) east-southeast of Martinique. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at The tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Cindy as it makes landfall on Martinique with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a barometric pressure of .

August 16 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Cindy reaches maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 85 mi (140 km) southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 21:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Cindy weakens into a tropical depression as it makes landfall near Barahona, Dominican Republic, with sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a barometric pressure of .

August 17 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST, August 16) at Tropical Depression Cindy is last noted as a tropical cyclone inland about 45 mi north-northwest of Barahona, Dominican Republic; it dissipates shortly thereafter.

August 22 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at A tropical depression forms from a tropical wave about 915 mi (1,475 km) east-northeast of Puerto Rico.

August 23

12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Another tropical depression forms from an area of disturbed weather well to the west of the coast of Africa.

August 24 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at The tropical depression west of Africa strengthens into Tropical Storm Dennis.

August 25 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Dennis reaches maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of . 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at The tropical depression that had formed far to the east-northeast of Puerto Rico three days prior strengthens into Tropical Storm Emily about 775 mi (1,250 km) north-northeast of that island.

August 26 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Emily strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 675 mi (1,085 km) north-northeast of Puerto Rico. The system's sustained winds simultaneously reach an initial peak of 75 mph (120 km/h); its barometric pressure is at this time.

August 27

00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. AST, August 26) at Hurricane Emily weakens into a tropical storm about 640 mi (1,030 km) north-northeast of Puerto Rico, though the system's barometric pressure decreases to and continues to drop over the next 48 hours. 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Dennis weakens into a tropical depression. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. AST) at Tropical Storm Emily restrengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 580 mi (935 km) north-northeast of Puerto Rico.

August 28 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. AST) at Tropical Depression Dennis dissipates.

August 29 00:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. EDT, August 28) at The barometric pressure of Hurricane Emily reaches an initial minimum of about 625 mi (1,010 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

August 31 06:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. EDT) at Hurricane Emily strengthens to Category 2 intensity about 190 mi (305 km) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 18:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. EDT) at Hurricane Emily strengthens to Category 3 intensity about 50 mi (85 km) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, making it the only major hurricane of the season; it simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). 21:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. EDT) at Hurricane Emily makes its closest approach to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, passing about 25 mi (35 km) to the east with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a barometric pressure of .

September September 1