The 1980's produced even more technology advances in Meteorology especially when it came to hurricanes. New high tech weather satellites where launched. These new satellites could estimate a storms intensity and pressure. In addition, computer models got a huge upgrade.

In addition, the 1980's where still part of the cool phase of the Atlantic. Atlantic Osculation was still negative which limited storm development. On the other hand, the 1980's still had destructive storms. During the 1980's the Atlantic Basin had 10-11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes (categories 3, 4, and 5). Also the seasons average total ACE (Accumulated Cyclonic Energy) would typically be 80-100.

The 1984 Atlantic Hurricane Season was a strange season for a few reasons. In terms of named storms it was above average with 13 named storms. In fact, it was the most active season since 1971. The season was near average in terms of hurricanes with 5, but below average in major hurricanes. As only one major hurricane developed. The seasons Total ACE was 84.50 which was normal. It is considered an average to slightly above average season although a lot of the storms where short lived.

One reason the season had so many named storms was a La Nina developed. This La Nina would last from January 1984 to January 1986. La Nina allowed several storms to develop. However, because the ASO was negative it kept the 1984 season from being a highly active season.

Another strange part of the 1984 season is most of the storms developed in the Gulf, Caribbean, and Central Atlantic. These places are normal. Very few storms developed in the far Atlantic though. Typically we see development in the far Atlantic in August, September and even early October. One reason for very few storms developing in the far Atlantic was a huge drought in Africa. This drought caused a historic famine in Central Africa. Due to the drought there was not that many tropical waves which are what a lot of tropical systems in the far Atlantic originate from.

Still, the 1984 season was active as I have stated. I will be doing a review of the named storms. Winds are the storm's peak winds, pressure is the lowest pressure observed, * means the hurricane was a major hurricane, and damage is in USA dollars. The dates in parenthesis is when the storm was active as a tropical system.

STS #1 (8/18-8/21) winds 60 mph, pressure 1000 millibars category STS. Subtropical Storm One developed around the Gulf Stream and stayed out to sea. The storm was subtropical because it had both tropical characteristics and non tropical characteristics. Basically it was a hybrid of a tropical storm and a strong tropical low. Little impacts was reported.

Tropical Storm Arthur (8/28-9/5) winds 50 mph pressure 1004 millibars category Tropical Storm. Arthur formed east of the Antilles. Arthur moved northward and ran into a hostile environmental causing no impacts.

Tropical Storm Bertha (8/30-9/4) winds 40 mph pressure 1007 millibars, category Tropical Storm. Bertha was one of the few storms to develop in the far Atlantic. Bertha was caused no impacts as it stayed out to sea.

Tropical Storm Cesar (8/31-9/2) winds 60 mph pressure 994 millibars category Tropical Storm. Cesar formed around the Gulf Stream and stayed out to sea.

*Hurricane Diana (9/8-9/16) winds 135 mph, pressure 949 millibars, category 4. The strongest storm of the season formed off the Florida Coast and begin to move northward. While going over the warm Waters Diana rapidly strengthened into a category 4 hurricane. As Diana approached North Carolina drier air weakened Diana. Diana made landfall in North Carolina as a high end category 1 hurricane. Although some of the outer banks observed surface winds of 100 mph. Therefore, its possible Diana may have been a category 2 hurricane at landfall. Regardless, Diana made landfall in a rural area which limited the damage. On the other hand, Diana caused 3 deaths and $66 million in damages.

TS Edouard (9/15-9/15) winds 65 mph pressure 998 millibars category tropical storm. Edouard formed in the bay of Campeche area of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm quickly strengthened as it approached the Mexican coastline. The storm made landfall and quickly dissipated. No damage was reported.

TS Fran (9/15-9/20) winds 65 mph pressure 994 millibars category TS. Fran formed before it crossed the Cape Verde Islands. Usually tropical storms develop after they move past the Cape Verde Islands. Fran made landfall in the island country causing severe flooding. Fran caused 32 deaths and $3 million in damages.

TS Gustav (9/16-9/19) winds 50 mph pressure 1006 millibars. Gustav was a short lived tropical storm that formed in the Central Atlantic. Gustav stayed out to sea causing no problems.

Hurricane Hortense (9/23-10/2) winds 75 mph pressure 993 millibars category 1. The second hurricane of the 1984 season developed in the Central Atlantic. Hortense made several loops in the open waters peaking as a category 1 hurricane. Due to the hurricane staying out to sea no impacts occurred.

Tropical Storm Isidore (9/25-10/1) winds 60 mph pressure 999 millibars, category Tropical Storm. Isidore developed over the Bahamas and moved westward. Isidore made landfall in Florida at peak intensity. In Florida Isidore caused flooding 1 death and $1 million in damages.

Hurricane Josephine (10/7-10/18) winds 105 mph pressure 965 millibars category 2. Josephine developed in the Central Atlantic and steadily strengthened. while moving over the Gulf Stream the hurricane reached its peak strength. Josephine caused no problems due to staying out to sea.

Hurricane Klaus (11/5-11/13) winds 90 mph pressure 971 millibars, category 1. Klaus developed in the Caribbean. Due to the Caribbean warm's waters Klaus was almost a hurricane when it made landfall in the US Territory of Puerto Rico. After going other Puerto Rico Klaus reorganized and strengthened more eventually becoming a high end category 1 hurricane. In Puerto Rico Klaus caused severe flooding causing 3 deaths and $152 million in damages.

Hurricane Lili (12/12-12/24) winds 80 mph pressure 980 millibars category 1. Lili was unusual as it developed outside of the hurricane season. Lili started out as a subtropical storm. As it went over the still very warm waters it became a fully tropical storm. The storm continued to strengthen becoming a hurricane. For several days Hurricane Lili made several loops in the open waters of the Central Atlantic before moving over cooler waters. No damage or impacts where reported.

The 1984 season was above average in terms of named storms, near average in hurricanes, near average in ACE, but below average in terms of major hurricanes. That is what made this season a strange one at that. While most of the named storms stayed away from land there where some that had impacts. Overall, the season claimed around 40 lives and caused $222 million in damages.

Due to most of the storms stay away from land. No names where retired by the World Meteorological Organization the following year. Klaus should have been retired but the USA did not request retirement. It should be noted the names Diana and Klaus would be retired but it was due to the 1990 storms as the lists are used every 6 years. The 1984 season showed us that other variables are at play in determining if a season will be average, above average, or below average. Normally ENSO conditions play a role in determining Atlantic Activity. While La Nina caused several storms to develop. The famine in Africa and the negative ASO kept this season from being very active.