Timeline of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season

The 1994 Pacific hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclogenesis over the Pacific Ocean north of the Equator and east of the International Date Line. The official bounds of each Pacific hurricane season are dates that conventionally delimit the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center, beginning on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific proper (east of 140°W) and on June 1 in the Central Pacific (140°W to the International Date Line), and ending on November 30 in both areas. Activity in the 1994 season was considerably greater than average, particularly in the Central Pacific; tropical cyclones generally formed and intensified farther west than normal due in part to above-average sea surface temperatures over the southeastern portion of the Central Pacific and the prevalence of a large anticyclone near 140°W for much of July and August. El Niño conditions, which tend to cause increased tropical cyclone activity over the Pacific Ocean, were also present. Despite the high activity, the season had an unusually late start; it did not commence until the formation of Tropical Storm Aletta on June 18. The season ended on October 26 with the dissipation of Tropical Storm Nona.

A total of twenty-two tropical depressions formed, with all but two strengthening into named tropical storms; ten became hurricanes, of which five became major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale). Three hurricanesEmilia, Gilma, and Johnreached Category 5 intensity, the highest rating on the scale. This set a record for most Category 5 hurricanes in one season since records began in 1971, which would later be tied in 2002 and 2018. Hurricane John traversed the Pacific Ocean for 8,190 miles (13,180 km), making it the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone on record worldwide. Lasting for thirty days, John was also the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record globally until Cyclone Freddy, which spent at least thirty-four days as a tropical cyclone in February and March 2023. The storms of the 1994 season collectively generated an Accumulated Cyclone Energy index of 185.2 units, which is the eleventh-highest on record for a Pacific hurricane season as of March 2024.

Only one tropical cyclone, Hurricane Rosa in October, caused fatalities or made landfall during the 1994 season. It struck the Mexican state of Sinaloa at Category 2 strength, killing five people in the country. Proceeding rapidly northeastward across Mexico and into the United States after landfall, the storm and its remnants caused disastrous flooding in southeastern Texas that claimed more than twenty lives and wrought at least $700 million (1994 USD) in damage. Earlier in the season, Tropical Depression and Hurricane John caused minor impacts in the Central Pacific. Heavy rainfall from generated substantial flooding on the Big Island of Hawaii, resulting in damages estimated at up to $5 million (1994 USD). After weakening greatly from its peak intensity, John passed about 15 mi (30 km) to the north of Johnston Atoll as a strong Category 1 hurricane; high winds caused $15 million (1994 USD) in damage.

Prior to 2015, two time zones were utilized in the Eastern Pacific basin: Pacific east of 140°W, and Hawaii−Aleutian from 140°W to the International Date Line. For convenience, each event is listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first, using the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC), with the respective local time included in parentheses. 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 the formation of tropical cyclones as well as the strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It also includes information that was not released while the storm was active, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is included.

Timeline of events

May May 15 The 1994 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins. No tropical cyclones formed in May.

June June 1 The 1994 Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins.

June 18

06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 17) at The first tropical depression of the season develops from a tropical wave over the open waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

June 19 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 18) at The aforementioned tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Aletta.

June 20 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 19) at Tropical Storm Aletta reaches peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Aletta reaches a minimum barometric pressure of .

June 21 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Aletta weakens into a tropical depression.

June 23 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 22) at Tropical Depression Aletta dissipates about 1,035 mi (1,670 km) east of the Big Island of Hawaii.

June 27

06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 26) at A tropical depression develops from a tropical wave about 575 mi (925 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at The aforementioned tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Bud about 540 mi (870 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

June 28 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 27) at Tropical Storm Bud reaches peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) about 560 mi (900 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 27) at Tropical Storm Bud reaches a minimum barometric pressure of about 580 mi (935 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at A tropical depression develops from a tropical wave about 830 mi (1,335 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Bud weakens into a tropical depression about 670 mi (1,075 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

June 29 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 28) at The aforementioned tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Carlotta about 700 mi (1,130 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Bud is last noted about 915 mi (1,475 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates six hours later. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Carlotta strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 550 mi (890 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

June 30

06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 29) at Hurricane Carlotta strengthens to Category 2 intensity about 490 mi (790 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Carlotta reaches peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) about 470 mi (760 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July July 1 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 30) at Hurricane Carlotta reaches a minimum barometric pressure of about 495 mi (795 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 2 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 1) at Hurricane Carlotta weakens to Category 1 intensity about 735 mi (1,185 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Carlotta weakens into a tropical storm about 870 mi (1,400 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 4 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 3) at Tropical Storm Carlotta weakens into a tropical depression about 1,185 mi (1,910 km) west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 5 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Carlotta dissipates about 1,520 mi (2,445 km) west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 8

12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression develops from an area of unsettled weather about 1,035 mi (1,670 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 9 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 8) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Daniel about 1,205 mi (1,935 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Daniel reaches peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 1,410 mi (2,270 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 11 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Storm Daniel crosses into the Central Pacific basin about 1,080 mi (1,740 km) east-southeast of Ka Lae, Hawaii.

July 14 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 13) at Tropical Storm Daniel weakens into a tropical depression about 435 mi (705 km) southeast of Ka Lae, Hawaii. 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Daniel is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 205 mi (335 km) southeast of Ka Lae, Hawaii; it degenerates into a tropical wave six hours later.

July 16 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 15) at Tropical Depression develops from a disturbance near the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Emilia.

July 17 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 16) at Tropical Storm Emilia strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Emilia strengthens to Category 2 intensity as it crosses into the Central Pacific basin.

July 18 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 17) at Hurricane Emilia strengthens to Category 3 intensity, making it the first major hurricane of the season. 06:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. HST, July 17) at Hurricane Emilia strengthens to Category 4 intensity.

July 19 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 18) at Tropical Depression forms. 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Emilia reaches a minimum barometric pressure of . 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Fabio.

18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Emilia strengthens to Category 5 intensity, making it the first of three such storms this season. It simultaneously reaches peak winds of 160 mph (260 km/h). 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Fabio reaches peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of .

July 20 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 19) at Hurricane Emilia weakens to Category 4 intensity. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Fabio weakens into a tropical depression.

July 21 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 20) at A tropical depression develops from a tropical wave about 1,135 mi (1,825 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 22 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 21) at Hurricane Emilia weakens to Category 3 intensity. 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 21) at The aforementioned tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Gilma about 1,350 mi (2,175 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. 06:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. HST, July 21) at Tropical Depression Fabio crosses into the Central Pacific basin. 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Emilia weakens to Category 2 intensity. 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Emilia weakens to Category 1 intensity.

July 23

00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 22) at Hurricane Emilia weakens into a tropical storm. 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 22) at Tropical Storm Gilma strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 1,665 mi (2,680 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.