Tropical Depression One Tropical Depression One formed on May 24 from a weak
low pressure area to the west of
Jamaica, which had been producing scattered showers over the island during the preceding days. The depression moved across
Cuba shortly after forming, although the convection was located to the east of its poorly defined center. As it headed toward Florida, it was absorbed by an approaching
cold front. While crossing Cuba, the depression dropped heavy rainfall, and predictions stated that precipitation amounts could reach as high as , but the greatest amount measured was at east of
Havana. Heavy rainfall also occurred across much of south Florida, peaking at at the Royal Palm Ranger Station in
Everglades National Park. While the depression was affecting south Florida, the
National Weather Service issued "urban flood statements" warning of flooded streets in mainly low-lying areas, especially in
Dade and
Broward counties. Standing water on many Florida
expressways caused automobile accidents, especially in Dade County, where 28 accidents were reported.
Tropical Storm Arthur The second tropical depression of the season developed on July 22 from a
tropical wave nearly midway between the
Lesser Antilles and
Cape Verde. The depression slowly intensified, and was eventually upgraded to Tropical Storm Arthur, two days later. On July 25, Tropical Storm Arthur crossed the
Windward Islands chain, Emerging into the
Caribbean Sea, Arthur nearly attained hurricane status on July 25. Thereafter, wind shear began increasing over Arthur, and a weakening trend began after peak intensity. As Arthur headed further into the Caribbean Sea, it significantly weakened and was downgraded to a tropical depression on July 27. Later that day, Air Force reconnaissance and satellite imagery did not show a low-level circulation, indicating that Arthur had degenerated into open tropical wave southeast of
Kingston, Jamaica. Shortly after Arthur became a tropical storm on July 24, a tropical storm warning was issued for Trinidad, Tobago, and
Grenada; six hours later, it was extended to the
Grenadines. About 24 hours later, all of the tropical storm warnings were discontinued. As Arthur headed further into the Caribbean Sea, a tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for
Hispaniola and
Puerto Rico on July 26. All of the tropical storm watches and warnings were discontinued after Arthur weakened to a tropical depression. After Arthur made landfall on Tobago, several landslides occurred, and a major bridge had collapsed; electrical and water services were significantly disrupted. Damage was also reported on Grenada, where two bridges were damaged, electricity and telephone service was disrupted, and crops were affected as well. In addition, Arthur caused damage to four hotels and hundreds of houses. Wind gusts on the island of Grenada reportedly reached . As Arthur passed south of Puerto Rico, there were reports of strong winds and heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall was also reported on the south coast of Haiti as Arthur approached the country.
Hurricane Bertha A tropical wave emerged off the coast of Africa, and after interacting with a
cold front and an
area of low pressure, developed into a subtropical depression on July 24, offshore of
North Carolina near
Cape Hatteras. The subtropical depression slowly acquired tropical characteristics, and was reclassified as Tropical Depression Three on July 27. On the following day, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Bertha. It drifted northeast and became a hurricane west-southwest of
Bermuda on July 29. As Bertha continued parallel to the
East Coast of the United States, it had experienced strong wind shear and was downgraded back to a tropical storm later on July 29. However, by July 30, Air Force reconnaissance flights reported at hurricane-force winds, and Bertha had re-intensified into a hurricane at that time. After becoming a hurricane again, Bertha continued northeastward, but transitioned into an
extratropical cyclone over
Nova Scotia on August 2. Nine deaths were attributed to Bertha, including six crew members of the
Greek freighter
Corazon who perished off the Canadian coast after their ship broke up. Another fatality was caused when one person fell off the ship
Patricia Star and into the Atlantic; the other two deaths were from two people drowning in north Florida. Damage to crops and a suspension bridge were reported from Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island; this damage totaled to $4.427 million (1990
CAD; $3.912 million 1990 USD).
Tropical Storm Cesar While Bertha was approaching Atlantic Canada, a tropical wave emerged into an Atlantic from the west coast of Africa, and quickly developed into Tropical Depression Four approximately south of Cape Verde. The depression headed northwestward due to the weakness of a subtropical ridge and slowly intensified. While the depression was well west of Cape Verde, it intensified into Tropical Storm Cesar on August 2. Cesar continued on the generally northwestward path and no significant change in intensity occurred, as it peaked at shortly after becoming a tropical storm. Later in its duration, wind shear significantly increased, causing the low-level circulation to be removed from the deep convection on August 6, and Cesar weakened back to a tropical depression as a result. As it was weakening to a tropical depression, Cesar became nearly stationary, and turned abruptly eastward. On the following day, Cesar dissipated almost east-southeast of Bermuda.
Tropical Storm Edouard A
frontal wave formed near the Azores in early August. When thunderstorm activity grew near its center, it was deemed a subtropical depression on August 2 just east of the Azores. Associated with an upper-level cold low, it intensified into a subtropical storm on August 3, although water temperatures were cooler than what is usually required for
tropical cyclogenesis. It tracking westward and passed near
Graciosa before weakening back to a depression on August 4. The depression executed a small cyclonic loop, developing deep and organized convection near the circulation. Late on August 6, it transitioned into Tropical Depression Six. The depression moved northeastward toward the Azores, intensifying into Tropical Storm Edouard on August 8. Shortly thereafter it reached peak winds of , and subsequently it moved past the northern Azores. On August 10, Edouard weakened again to depression status, and became extratropical on the following day. The remnants of Edouard dissipated on August 13, a few hundred miles west of
Portugal. Much of the western Azores reported winds of at . The island of
Horta reported winds gusts from .
Lajes Air Force Base on
Terceira Island reported a maximum wind gust of . Also a tower on the island of Terceira reported sustained winds at , while a gusts as high as were recorded.
Hurricane Diana A tropical wave uneventfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean and entered the Caribbean Sea either late July or early August 1990. As the system entered the southwest Caribbean, it began to further develop, and became Tropical Depression Five on August 4. The depression headed northwestward, and intensified enough to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Diana on August 5. After becoming a tropical storm, Diana continued to quickly intensify, and maximum sustained winds were before landfall occurred in
Felipe Carrillo Puerto,
Quintana Roo, on the
Yucatán Peninsula. Diana weakened somewhat over the Yucatán Peninsula, but was still a tropical storm when it entered the
Gulf of Mexico. While over the Gulf of Mexico, Diana again rapidly intensified, and became a hurricane on August 7. Later that day, Diana further strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane, and peaked with winds of . Only two hours, Diana made landfall near
Tampico, Tamaulipas, at the same intensity. After moving ashore, Diana rapidly weakened, and had deteriorated to a tropical storm only four hours after landfall. By August 8, Diana weakened back to a tropical depression near
Mexico City. Diana briefly entered the Eastern Pacific Basin on August 9, but was not re-classified, and it rapidly dissipated at the south end of the
Gulf of California. While crossing the Yucatán Peninsula, Diana produced near-tropical storm force winds, and heavy rainfall, but not damage or fatalities. However, the mainland of Mexico fared much worse, where torrential rainfall caused mudslides in the states of
Hidalgo and
Veracruz. As a result of heavy rainfall, many houses were destroyed, and approximately 3,500 became homeless. Diana also produced high winds across Mexico, which toppled tree and fell electricity poles, leaving many without telephone service and block several roads. In addition, the remnants of Diana brought rainfall to the southwestern United States. Contemporary reports indicated that 139 people had been killed, with an additional 25,000 people being injured. Damage as a result of Diana was estimated at $90.7 million.
Tropical Storm Fran On August 11, a tropical wave developed into the seventh tropical depression of the season, while situated several hundred miles southwest of Cape Verde. The depression moved rapidly westwards, and intensified to just under tropical storm status on August 12. However, later that day, the depression began to lose its low-level circulation, while deep convection was diminishing. As a result, the depression became "too weak to classify" for
Dvorak technique, and the system had degenerated back into a tropical wave early on August 13. After weakening back to a tropical wave, the system quickly re-organized, and re-developed into a tropical depression twelve hours later. Later that day, the depression further intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fran. No significant change in intensity occurred after Fran became a tropical storm and maximum sustained winds never exceeded . By the next day, Fran made landfall on Trinidad at the same intensity. While on Trinidad, Fran significantly interacted with the South American mainland, and quickly dissipated on August 15. As a result of Fran, only heavy rains were reported on the Windward Islands.
Hurricane Gustav A tropical wave exited western Africa on August 18, and continued westward due to a ridge to its north. The system developed into a tropical depression on August 24 roughly east of
Barbados. A day later it intensified into Tropical Storm Gustav, and on August 26 the storm attained hurricane status. Around that time, the ridge to its north weakened as a trough steered the hurricane northward. On August 27, Gustav passed about east of the Lesser Antilles as a Category 2 hurricane. Large swells, light rain, and gusty winds were reported in the Lesser Antilles. The Egyptian
motorship Raseltin encountered rough seas, damaging the hull of the ship. The remnants of Gustav severely impacted a seismic research operation off the coast of the United Kingdom, damaging some of the research tools. In all, the storm delayed the project by two days.
Tropical Storm Hortense The ninth tropical depression of the season developed from a tropical wave west-southwest of Cape Verde on August 25. The depression headed west-northwestward, while slowly intensifying and establishing better-defined upper-level outflow. By August 26, the depression intensified enough to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Hortense. After becoming a tropical storm, Hortense was steered nearly due north, under the influence on an upper-level low. Hortense later headed generally northwestward, after the upper-level low degenerated into a trough and moved eastward. Although intensification was somewhat slow, Hortense managed to peak as a tropical storm on August 28. On August 29, nearby Hurricane Gustav was rapidly intensifying, and began to significantly affect Hortense with increasing vertical wind shear. Hortense weakened, with the storm degenerating into a tropical depression on August 30. Further weakening occurred, and Hortense dissipated on August 31 roughly east-southeast of Bermuda.
Hurricane Isidore A vigorous tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa on September 3. It quickly developed an area of deep convection with a well-defined circulation, which prompted it being classified a tropical depression on September 4. At the time it was situated hundreds of miles south of Cape Verde at a very southerly latitude of 7.2°N, making it the southernmost-forming tropical cyclone on record in the north Atlantic basin. Initial intensification was slow as the system moved northwestward, a movement caused by a large mid-level trough over the central Atlantic. On September 5 the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Isidore. Subsequently, it intensified at a faster rate, becoming a hurricane on September 6. The following day, satellite estimates from the
Dvorak technique suggested a peak intensity of and a minimum barometric pressure of 978
mbar (
hPa; 28.88
inHg). After peaking, Isidore entered a region of stronger upper-level winds and quickly weakened. By September 8 it had deteriorated into a tropical storm, although re-intensification occurred after the shear decreased. An eye feature redeveloped in the center of the convection, and Isidore re-intensified into a hurricane on September 9. It ultimately reached a secondary peak intensity of . Isidore's motion slowed, briefly becoming stationary, although it remained a hurricane for several days. Cooler waters imparted weakening to a tropical storm on September 16, and the next day it became extratropical to the east of Newfoundland.
Hurricane Klaus A tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Thirteen on October 3 around /h) east of
Dominica. The depression rapidly intensified into a tropical storm, and was classified as Tropical Storm Klaus only six hours later. Because Klaus was in an area of weak steering current, it was drifting west-northwestward. On October 5, Klaus briefly intensified into a hurricane, and passed only east of
Barbuda later that day. By the following day, Klaus had weakened back into a tropical storm. After weakening to a tropical storm, Klaus began to accelerate, while turning westward. Klaus became significantly affected by wind shear, as it weakened to a tropical depression to the north of
Puerto Rico on October 8. Later that day, deep convection began to re-developed near the low-level circulation of Klaus, and it had re-intensified into a tropical storm. As Klaus tracked northwestward near the Bahamas on October 9, it was absorbed by an area of low pressure, which would eventually develop into Tropical Storm Marco. Since Klaus passed very close to the Leeward Islands, tropical storm watches and warnings were issued, as well as hurricane watches and warning, starting on October 4. In addition, tropical storm watches and warnings were also issued for the
British and
United States Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. After several watches and warnings were issued, all were discontinued by October 9, around the time when Klaus was absorbed by the area of low pressure. In
Martinique, flooding caused seven fatalities, and displaced 1,500 other people. Heavy rainfall also occurred on other Leeward Islands, with estimates as high as of precipitation. However, no effects were reported in the Bahamas. The remnants brought large waves and heavy rainfall to southeastern United States, which caused four deaths when a dam burst in
South Carolina. In total, Klaus caused 11 fatalities,
Hurricane Lili A
cold-core low which affected the latter stages of Josephine developed at the surface and became a subtropical storm on October 6, about southeast of
Cape Race,
Newfoundland. The subtropical storm moved southwest and slowly curved westward, nearly intensifying into a hurricane. On October 11, the subtropical storm finally acquired tropical characteristics. Simultaneously, the now-tropical cyclone intensified into a hurricane, and was re-classified as Hurricane Lili. After becoming a hurricane, Lili headed rapidly west-southwestward, and did not intensify past maximum sustained winds of . After passing south of Bermuda later that day, Lili began to curve slowly northward, thereby avoiding landfall in the United States. While about east-southeast of
Cape Hatteras, Lili weakened back to tropical storm intensity. Weakening to a tropical storm, Lili curved northeastward and accelerated toward Atlantic Canada. However, Lili transitioned into an extratropical storm on October 14, just offshore of Nova Scotia. The post-tropical cyclone made landfall on Newfoundland soon afterwards. Lili posed a threat to Bermuda, and a hurricane warning as the storm approached, but only gusty winds and light rainfall was reported. As Lili continued westward, it had also posed a significant threat to the East Coast of the United States, since some of the computer models did not predict a northward curve. As a result, several hurricane watches and warnings were issued from
Little River Inlet, South Carolina, to
Cape Henlopen,
Delaware. However, Lili later curved northward, and only caused minor coastal erosion in
North Carolina and rainfall in
Pennsylvania. Lili began impacting Atlantic Canada as it was transitioning an extratropical cyclone, and the storm reportedly caused strong winds in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. No damage total or fatalities were reported. Although it had dissipated, Marco added to the heavy rainfall already brought to the southeastern states by the remnants of Hurricane Klaus. Although only a depression at final landfall, this was officially counted as a tropical storm hit on the United States as much of the circulation was on land before landfall in the area of St. Petersburg, Florida. In preparations for Marco, a tropical storm warning was issued for nearly the entire Gulf and Atlantic coast of Florida. In Florida, Marco caused flooding damage to houses and roads, in addition to producing tropical storm force winds across the state. However, Marco is more notable for the impact from the remnants, especially in
Georgia and South Carolina, where rainfall from the storm peaked at near
Louisville, Georgia. In combination with the remnants of Hurricane Klaus, Marco caused heavy rainfall in South Carolina, causing a dam to burst, leading to three fatalities. Several more fatalities were caused by the remnants of Marco and Klaus, and the system caused 12 deaths. It also caused $57 million in damage, most of it from damage or destruction of residences in Georgia. Nana initially posed a threat to Bermuda, and as a result, a hurricane watch was issued late on October 18. However, after Nana weakened to a tropical storm on October 20, the hurricane watch was downgraded to a tropical storm watch. Furthermore, Nana began to curve southeastward away from Bermuda, and later on October 20, the tropical storm watch was discontinued. The only known effect from Nana on Bermuda was of rain. Nana was a very small hurricane, the circulation probably being only wide. == Storm names ==