The 1994 season was a way below average season as only 7 named storms developed, 3 became hurricanes and none became major hurricanes. In the 1990's an average season would have 10-11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. The 1994 season was below average due to an El Nino. Also it was the last year in the cooling phase due to negative ASO.

Despite the season being below average it did produce two destructive Storms, Tropical Storm Alberto, and Hurricane Gordon. Yesterday I did a post on Alberto. So today I'm going to do one on Hurricane Gordon.

Hurricane Gordon was a classic November hurricane as it developed in the Caribbean. Typically, November hurricanes develop in the Caribbean or around the Gulf Stream. A tropical low moved off of the coast of Honduras and Nicaragua. Due to the warm waters of the Caribbean the low started to become better organized. The National Hurricane Center named it a subtropical storm. It had characteristics like a tropical storm but also resembled a non tropical storm. Basically, the storm was a hybrid.

As the sub-tropical storm moved northeastward in the Caribbean it became more tropical and was given the name Gordon. Gordon continued to strengthen due to the warm waters. First the storm made landfall in Southwest Cuba as a 50 mph storm, but quickly emerged back over the waters.

Then disaster struck when Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall in Haiti. Some sources state Gordon made landfall with winds up to 60 mph others state it was 55 mph. Regardless Gordon nearly stalled. Half of its center was on land while the other half was over water. While this kept Gordon from strengthening it also kept it from dissipating. For several days Gordon pounded Haiti with flooding rains.

In Haiti some locations received 24-36 inches of rain (2-3 feet). The Flooding rains caused mudslides, and some cities where completely flooded. In Haiti Gordon killed 1,100 people and caused $600 million in damages. Even As Gordon pulled away from Haiti its backside caused more flooding.

As Gordon moved away from Haiti it tapped into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. It started to become better organized. Eventually Gordon became a hurricane reaching a peak of 85 mph. This made Gordon a category 1 hurricane.

Due to a trough parked off the East Coast. Gordon did several turns around the Gulf Stream and off the Southeast Coastline. It was unclear if Gordon would come ashore in the US. The Trough kept Gordon from coming ashore but it caused it to make several loops. Also High Pressure in the Central Atlantic kept Gordon from going northward and out to sea.

I was a young lad and tracking hurricanes on my hurricane plotting map. I was amazed that a storm/hurricane could do so many turns. I was intrigued on why was this storm making so many loops. I had not sen anything like this before. When I was a student in my Atmospheric Classes. I can remember we talked about Gordon and what came together for this storm to just keep making turns like it did.

Eventually, the trough moved off the East Coast and pulled colder air into Gordon's Center. This caused Gordon to rapidly weaken. The hurricane literally fell apart as it neared the Southeast Coastline. Gordon became extra-tropical meaning it lost all its tropical characteristics and became a low pressure system. The remnants of Gordon did provide rainfall to Northeast Florida, Georgia Coastline, and Southeast Carolina Coastline.

However, despite the destruction and death toll the name Gordon was not retired for several reasons.

First, the World Meteorological Organization and the National Hurricane Center blamed Haiti for the high death toll. Haiti was in a civil war at that time and did not issue life saving warnings. Haiti did not issue a tropical storm warning or a flood warning. Also, the two reports also pointed out that Haiti had stripped their vegetation. The forests, and trees had been depleted. The lack of vegetation added to the flooding as there was very little vegetation to help soak up the water.

Second, Also Haiti acting government was blistered in both reports. The acting Haitian government left ahead of the storm. Again, they did not issue warnings. They went to another country while their country flooded. This also added political instability and prolonged the civil war.

Third, Haiti did not send a delegation to the Atlantic Hurricane Meeting the following Spring. Haiti and Cuba where the only two countries impacted by Gordon so only they could request retirement. Cuba did not request retirement because they issued warnings loss of life was low. Also, in Cuba Gordon came ashore in a rural area so only minor damage was reported. Haiti due to not having a delegation did not request Retirement. Thus, Gordon was not retired though it should have been in my opinion.

Looking back on it now as a Meteorologist. It is easy to see why Gordon was so deadly. The High Pressure in the North Central Atlantic kept Gordon from moving away from Haiti. Also the steering currents where very weak. This kept Gordon from moving away from Haiti for several days. Also since Gordon's center was on land while the other half was over the water, this set up a flood situation. Gordon could not strengthen but it really could not fizzle out either. Haiti also was on Gordon's eastern side.

Thus, you had a storm using the warm waters to create several rain bands. For several days Gordon's heavy rain bands flooded Haiti. Then when Gordon finally moved away Haiti bore the back part of the storm adding insult to injury. This is what allowed for a lot of places in Haiti to receive 2-3 feet of rain water.

I also agree with the NHC and WMO report. Had Haiti had a more stable government and issued warnings. The death toll could have been significantly reduced. In addition, had Haiti managed its forest cutting better instead of stripping the mountains. Vegetation could have perhaps soaked up some of the water. Then you had the entire political side of it the government deserting the population, a civil war, and as I stated lack of management contributed to this disaster.

Gordon was a destructive hurricane that occurred 30 years ago. In my opinion the name Gordon should have been retired after 1994. However, it was not due to the things I mentioned above. The storm's name still remains in circulation to this day. Overall, Gordon killed 1,150 people, and caused $600 million in damages. Almost all the deaths and damage occurred in Haiti.

When was the last time Gordon was used?

Gordon was last used in 2018. The names are reused every 6 years unless they are retired. Gordon is on the naming list this year.

Gordon replaced the name Gilbert from 1988 as Gilbert was retired due to its destruction in Jamaica and Mexico.

Gordon has been used in 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. As stated it will be used again this year when the 7th storm forms.