The 1934 Atlantic hurricane season produced thirteen tropical storms, of which seven further organized into hurricanes. Of those seven hurricanes, only one intensified into a major hurricane, which is a Category 3 or stronger system on the modern-day Saffir–Simpson scale. The first system developed on June 4 while the last storm dissipated on November 30. In 2012, as part of the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project, meteorologists identified two previously unknown September tropical storms and fine-tuned the meteorological histories of many others. However, given scant observations from ships and weather stations, significant uncertainty of tropical cyclone tracks, intensity, and duration remains, particularly for those storms that stayed at sea.

In the United States, the 1934 hurricane season was significantly less destructive than the preceding year. Forecasters credited this feat to the Weather Bureau's advanced warning to persons in the path of advancing hurricanes. In Central America, however, the season's first hurricane wrought catastrophic rainfall resulting in an enormous loss of life, estimated somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 people. The storm continued into the United States, killing 10 people and causing about $4.4 million in damage. In July, a hurricane struck Texas, spawning tornadoes and generating storm surge, killing 19 people; damage was estimated around $4.5 million. In late August and early September, another hurricane meandered offshore Texas while a weak tropical storm struck North Carolina, each causing minor damage. Shortly thereafter, a hurricane curved up the U.S. East Coast, resulting in 8 fatalities and widespread impacts. A weak tropical storm affected the U.S. Gulf Coast in early October, and the season's only major hurricane meandered across the southwestern Atlantic at the end of November.

The season's total activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 48, well below the 1931–1943 average of 91.2. ACE is a metric used to express the energy used by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime. Therefore, a storm with a longer duration will have high values of ACE. It is only calculated at six-hour increments in which specific tropical and subtropical systems are either at or above sustained wind speeds of , which is the threshold for tropical storm intensity. Thus, tropical depressions are not included here.

Timeline

Systems Hurricane One

A tropical depression formed over the Gulf of Honduras around 12:00 UTC on June 4. The system intensified into a tropical storm and reached winds of before striking near Belize City early on June 5. Once inland, it executed a cyclonic loop across the Mexican states of Guatemala and Chiapas before re-emerging into the Gulf of Honduras. The cyclone had weakened to a tropical depression while over land, but it restrengthened once offshore again and became a Category 1 hurricane with winds of before making landfall in extreme northern Belize early on June 9. The storm progressed across the Yucatán Peninsula in a weakened state but reacquired hurricane intensity as it made a second cyclonic loop over the Bay of Campeche. Now moving north, the hurricane reached peak winds of and maintained that strength through landfall near Jeanerette, Louisiana, at 19:00 UTC on June 16. It curved northeast once inland, losing tropical characteristics over central Tennessee after 06:00 UTC on June 18 but maintained its status as an extratropical cyclone until late on June 21, when it was located over Newfoundland and Labrador.

The cyclone proved to be catastrophic across El Salvador and western Honduras, where rainfall up to caused widespread flooding and one of the largest death tolls in the history of the Atlantic basin. Press reports indicated the number of fatalities ranged from 1,000 to 3,000, including 500 in the town of Ocotepeque alone. There, all structures but the town's church were reportedly demolished. The system produced hurricane-force winds across a portion of the Yucatán Peninsula before progressing into the United States. A storm surge inundated areas around Oyster Bayou, and boats were run aground along the coast. It brought winds up to in Morgan City, Louisiana, damaging structures. Officials with the United States Red Cross estimated that 75–150 homes were demolished, 1,500 others were left uninhabitable, and between 3,000 and 7,000 more were damaged to some degree by the storm. Rainfall totaled to in Lafayette; that city and Franklin, Melville, and Abbeville recorded daily rainfall records. The hurricane killed six people, caused $2.605 million in property damage, and incurred another $1.5 million in crop damage across Louisiana. Squalls from the system killed four people and injured many others in Mississippi, while heavy rainfall caused the Pearl River to exceed flood stage. Record rainfall during June in Tennessee, accumulating to in a matter of hours in Cedar Hill, caused about $250,000 in damage across the state. A small tornado struck north of Joelton and resulted in an additional $3,000 in damage. The extratropical remnants produced winds of in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and delivered needed rainfall throughout the region. Across Ontario and Quebec, heavy rains delayed traffic and congested storm sewers. High tension wires and poles were toppled, causing widespread power outages. Eleven barns were destroyed, and the Varennes lighthouse was put out of commission.

Hurricane Two

On July 10, a weak area of low pressure formed along a stationary front off the eastern coast of Florida. The disturbance gradually shed this frontal boundary and acquired a well-defined center, leading to the formation of a tropical depression around 00:00 UTC on July 12 to the east of the Florida–Georgia border. It intensified into a tropical storm a little over a day later and further to a Category 1 hurricane early on July 14 as it tracked east-northeast. Based on extrapolation from nearby ship reports, the hurricane is analyzed to have reached peak winds of early on July 15. It transitioned into an extratropical cyclone around 06:00 UTC the next day to the south of Newfoundland.

Hurricane Three

On July 21, a dissipating stationary front was analyzed offshore the Southeast United States. A tropical depression formed a short distance southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, around 06:00 UTC on July 22 and tracked southwest. It made landfall around St. Augustine, Florida, at 00:00 UTC on July 23 without having attained tropical storm strength. After crossing over Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico, the system turned west and began to intensify. It became a tropical storm early that day and further developed into a Category 1 hurricane early on July 25. The cyclone struck the coastline just north of Corpus Christi, Texas, around 17:00 UTC with winds. It continued inland across southern Texas and into northern Mexico and was last analyzed west of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, at 18:00 UTC on July 26.

Minor impacts were recorded in Florida, where trees were toppled, pecans and pears were blown down, and corn crops were flattened. Along the coastline of Texas, high tides damaged waterfront homes in Nueces and Jefferson counties. San José Island observed a storm surge. More than 1,000 residents on the Bolivar Peninsula were cut off for 48 hours, and communications between more than a dozen towns were severed. Numerous levee breaches inundated areas around Freeport and Vealsco, where water levels rose to several feet accordingly. Daily rainfall records were set in Fowlerton and Falfurrias at , respectively. Crops suffered extensive damage through several coastal counties, particularly in Nueces County where the local cotton crop suffered a 75 percent loss; several other counties reported a 50 percent loss. Peak winds of were measured in Corpus Christi. Strong winds smashed small boats and tore the roofs off structures, principally in Victoria. Three oil derricks were toppled to the south of the city. A series of tornadoes occurred in communities throughout central Texas. Across the state, preliminary estimates included the destruction of 260 homes, with severe damage to an additional 400 houses. This reportedly encompassed all homes along the mouth of the San Bernard River, all structures between Freeport and the mouth of the Colorado River, and at least 75 percent of homes in Matagorda. Damage was estimated around $4.5 million. Throughout the state, 19 people were killed, most from the large storm surge. Cattle losses were estimated to be in the thousands, with five to six hundred on the western end of Galveston Island alone. In the wake of the storm, federal aid was requested for 22 counties, encompassing a total of 272 families. Poor weather conditions hindered oil and gas prospecting across Starr and Hidalgo counties.

Tropical Storm Four

A weak tropical storm, first documented east of Barbados at 18:00 UTC on August 20, moved west-northwest and entered the Caribbean Sea south of St. Lucia. It failed to intensify over the next few days and instead degenerated to a tropical wave south of the Dominican Republic after 06:00 UTC on August 23. Historical weather maps indicate an area of disturbed weather but no concrete evidence of a well-defined, closed center of circulation. Given the lack of surface observations, meteorologists expressed uncertainty whether the system was actually a tropical cyclone. Some islands of the Lesser Antilles recorded gusty winds, abnormally low atmospheric pressures, and rainfall, including totals exceeding on Martinique.

Hurricane Five

A tropical storm formed in the central Gulf of Mexico around 06:00 UTC on August 26 from a stationary front or perhaps the remnants of the previous tropical cyclone. It initially moved west-northwest off the coast of Louisiana but soon banked toward the south, passing within of Galveston, Texas, as it intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of . The slow-moving system weakened as it moved into the Bay of Campeche. It curved southwest and made landfall near Tampico, Tamaulipas, with winds of around 04:00 UTC on September 1 and dissipated after 18:00 UTC that day.

In advance of the storm, the American Red Cross was deployed to give aid if needed. Tropical storm-force winds affected the Texas coastline from Port Arthur down to Matagorda Bay; peak winds of likely impacted areas between Freeport and Galveston as the storm made its closest approach. A daily rainfall record during the month of August was set in Garden City, at . Tides up to affected the coastline around Sabine. At the final landfall point, the tropical storm destroyed houses in the community of Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas.

Tropical Storm Six

In 2012, as part of the National Hurricane Center's reanalysis project, a new tropical cyclone was retroactively added to the season. A stationary front sagged across the western Atlantic in the final days of August. On September 1, an extratropical low developed as the front began to dissipate, and it quickly transitioned into a tropical storm by 06:00 UTC while south and west of Bermuda. The system moved northwest and reached peak winds of . Slight weakening ensued before it made landfall on the North Carolina Outer Banks at 10:00 UTC on September 3. The cyclone continued to decay as it moved across Virginia and Maryland, and it was absorbed by a front northwest of Baltimore after 06:00 UTC the next morning.

In Virginia, the storm halted the annual James River regatta and three craft were capsized by gusty winds. Owing to heavy rainfall and tides up to , several streams were swollen; floodwaters washed away bridges and rendered several routes impassable.

Hurricane Seven