The
2002 Pacific hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of
tropical cyclone formation over the
Pacific Ocean north of the
Equator and east of the
International Date Line. The official bounds of each Pacific hurricane season are dates that conventionally delineate the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the
National Hurricane Center (NHC), beginning on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific proper (east of 140°W) and June 1 in the Central Pacific (140°W to the International Date Line), and ending on November 30 in both areas. However,
tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of year.[1] The first tropical cyclone of the season, Hurricane Alma, developed on May 24; the final system, Tropical Depression Sixteen-E, dissipated on November 16.
Nineteen
tropical depressions developed during the 2002 season, with fifteen further strengthening into
namedtropical storms;[nb 1] eight became
hurricanes, of which six attained major hurricane status.[nb 2][2][3]: 2379 Activity was generally near normal, with the number of tropical storms and hurricanes matching the respective 1991–2020 averages; however, the number of major hurricanes was above the average of four for the same period.[1][3]: 2379 Hurricanes
Elida,
Hernan, and
Kenna achieved
Category 5 strength on the
Saffir–Simpson scale, tying a record set in
1994 for the most storms to do so in one season since reliable records began in 1971.[4]
Hurricane Kenna in late October was by far the most impactful storm of the season. After weakening from its peak intensity—which was marked by a minimum
barometric pressure of 913 mbar (26.96 inHg), making it the
fourth-most intense Pacific hurricane on record[5]—Kenna made
landfall on the coast of western
Mexico at Category 4 status with
maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). These winds, combined with a
storm surge of up to 16 feet (4.9 m), devastated the area surrounding the fishing village of
San Blas, Nayarit, where as many as 95% of homes were damaged or destroyed; four people were killed.[3]: 2390 [6] The name Kenna would later be
retired on account of the hurricane's effects in Mexico.[7]
Aside from Kenna, effects on land were relatively light during the season. Tropical Storm Julio struck southern Mexico in late September, causing torrential rainfall; flash floods damaged structures, and slick roads contributed to a bus accident that killed three people.[8] Tropical Storms Boris and Iselle generated heavy rainfall in Mexico without coming ashore, while Tropical Depression Eleven-E prompted the issuance of a
tropical storm warning and
hurricane watch for portions of the
Baja California peninsula but dissipated off the coast without impact.[9][10][11] Hurricanes Alma and Fausto were noted for unusual meteorological feats, though neither storm affected land; Alma followed
2001's
Hurricane Adolph as only the second known Pacific major hurricane in the month of May,[12] while Fausto regenerated into a tropical storm far to the north of the
Hawaiian Islands, where tropical cyclones are rarely observed.[2]
Four
time zones are utilized in the Eastern Pacific basin. They are, from east to west:
Central east of 106°W;
Mountain from 106°W to 114.9°W;
Pacific from 115°W to 139.9°W; and
Hawaii−Aleutian from 140°W to the International Date Line. For convenience, each event is listed in
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first, using the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC),[13] with the respective local time included in parentheses. Figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (
knots,
miles, or
kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest
millibar and nearest hundredth of an
inch of mercury. This timeline documents the formation of tropical cyclones as well as the strengthening, weakening, landfalls,
extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It also includes information that was not released while the storm was active, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center and the
Central Pacific Hurricane Center is included.
Timeline of events
May
May 15
The 2002 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.[1]
06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 28) at 12°48′N133°06′W / 12.8°N 133.1°W / 12.8; -133.1 (Three-E dissipates.) – Tropical Depression Three-E is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 1,670 mi (2,685 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates shortly thereafter.[15]
00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, August 5) at 19°00′N126°00′W / 19.0°N 126.0°W / 19.0; -126.0 (Seven-E dissipates.) – Tropical Depression Seven-E is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 1,070 mi (1,725 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates six hours later.[22]
12:00 UTC (6:00 a.m. MDT) at 17°42′N111°06′W / 17.7°N 111.1°W / 17.7; -111.1 (Hernan reaches Category 5 status and its peak intensity.) – Hurricane Hernan strengthens to Category 5 intensity about 395 mi (640 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, becoming the second of three such storms this season. It simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 921 mbar (27.20 inHg).[25]
^While the Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database (
HURDAT) lists a formation time of 00:00 UTC on August 25 for Tropical Depression Two-C – which eventually became Hurricane Ele – the CPHC stated in their seasonal summary that the system did not develop until 48 hours later.[2]
^While HURDAT lists a formation time of 18:00 UTC on October 23 for Tropical Depression Three-C – which eventually became Hurricane Huko – the CPHC stated in their seasonal summary that the system did not develop until 24 hours later.[2]
^On October 27,
daylight saving time ended in most areas of the basin, which resulted in the gap between UTC and local time widening by one hour. Hawaii was not affected; the state has not observed daylight saving time since 1945.[32][33]