Storms of 1984

Subtrop. 1 | Cesar | Diana | Hortense | Isidore | Josephine | Klaus

Subtrop. 1 began as a subtropical depression that formed just north of Bermuda. It moved northeastward and reached subtropical storm strength by the 19^th. The storm reached a maximum wind speed of 93 kilometres per hour (50 knots). Subtrop. 1 continued to move northeastward off the US coast and into the mid-Atlantic.

Subtrop. 1 was not responsible for any damages and nor had any direct impact on Canada.

Tropical Storm Cesar was named on August 31, 1984, when it was centered midway between Bermuda and Nova Scotia. For the next two days the storm continued to move northeastward. Cesar reached maximum wind speeds of 93 kilometres per hour (50 knots). By September 2, Cesar merged with an extratropical low pressure system to the east of Newfoundland.

Tropical Storm Cesar had no direct impact on Canada, nor were there any damages associated with this storm.

Diana was named on September 8, 1984, after forming just north of the Bahamas. On the next day Diana came within 100 kilometres of the Florida coast and turned northward. By the 10^th, Diana had achieved hurricane strength and was moving north-northeastward on a parallel with the coasts of the eastern United States. Over the next two days, Hurricane Diana intensified and moved close to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Diana reached maximum wind speeds of 195 kilometres per hour (105 knots). On September 13, the storm's centre crossed the coast near Cape Fear and moved inland. It then turned northeastward, moved back offshore and headed out to sea.

Hurricane Diana was responsible for three deaths and approximately $65 million in damages. Diana had no direct impact on Canada.

Hortense originated just to the east of Bermuda and was named a tropical storm on September 24, 1984. Hortense’s track was wildly inconstant. Over a seven-day period the storm looped through the mid-Atlantic, making three 180-degree turns. Hortense attained a maximum wind speed of 118.5 kilometres per hour (64 knots). On September 30, the storm finally decided to head northeastward, where it merged with an extratropical low pressure system in the North Atlantic.

Although Hurricane Hortense had no direct impact on Canada, newspaper reports indicate that the extratropical low that Hortense eventually merged with was later responsible for six deaths and damages in France and in Spain.

Isidore originated near the southeastern Bahamas on September 25, 1984. The depression moved northeastward through the Bahamas, intensifying to a tropical storm on the 26^th. Isidore curved from the Caribbean into central Florida and then re-curved and moved back offshore across the north Florida east coast. Tropical Storm Isidore reached a maximum wind speed of 93.5 kilometres per hour (50 knots). Isidore eventually headed into the mid-Atlantic were the storm lasted until October 1.

Isidore was accountable for one death in central Florida and an estimated $1 million in damages. Isidore had no direct impact on Canada.

It should be noted that Isidore was the last of eight named tropical cyclones to occur in the month of September. This is the most named storms in one month, on record, since 1886.

Josephine originated as a depression that formed just east of the Bahamas on October 7, 1984. Josephine moved to the West and became a tropical storm on the 8^th. By the following day, Josephine had turned towards the North and reached hurricane strength by the 10^th. Hurricane Josephine achieved maximum wind speeds of 165.5 kilometres per hour (89 knots). The hurricane moved slowly northward until October 14, when it stalled and turned sharply eastward. The storm then headed northeastward along the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Josephine weakened from the 17^th through the 19^th, while located about 500 kilometres south of Newfoundland. Its remnants headed east-northeastward until October 21.

Josephine was a hurricane for seven days and was responsible for high tides and wave action along the barrier islands from North Carolina to Massachusetts. The storm was not responsible for any deaths or damages, nor had any direct impact on Canada.

The second to last Atlantic hurricane of the 1984 season was Klaus, who lasted from November 5 until November 13. Centered just to the south of Puerto Rico, Klaus was upgraded to a tropical storm on the 6^th. Klaus moved northeastward into the Atlantic, intensifying and reaching hurricane strength by the 8^th. At this point, Klaus was located 200 kilometres northeast of Puerto Rico. Reaching a maximum wind speed of 147 kilometres per hour (79 knots), Klaus continued to move into the north Atlantic. The hurricane then hesitated and weakened, finally merging with an extratropical system on the 13^th.

Although Klaus had no direct impact on Canada, the storm’s strong winds did cause considerable damage to marine interests throughout the northeast Caribbean.