2002 Pacific hurricane season

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The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an ongoing event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm this year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico on October 25. It killed four people and was one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever strike the western coast of Mexico. Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Julio made landfall in Mexico, and Tropical Storm Boris dumped torrential rain along the Mexican coast, although it remained offshore.

Other storms were individually unusual. Hurricanes Elida and Hernan also reached Category 5 intensity, but neither did any damage. Hurricane Fausto, while it had no effect on land, regenerated into a tiny tropical storm at a very high latitude.

Contents

Season summary

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

The 2002 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 2002 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 2002 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2002. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. In practice, however, the season lasted from May 24, the formation date of its first system, to November 16, the dissipation date of the last.

There were twelve tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean this season. Of those, six became hurricanes and five became major hurricanes by reaching Category 3 or high on the Saffir Simpson Scale. A record three Category 5 storms formed. Four tropical depressions formed and dissipated before reaching the intensity of a named storm. In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, one tropical storm, one hurricane, and one major hurricane formed. The season saw below average activity in terms of the number of systems, but above average activity in terms of stronger storms. This was due to a moderately-strong El Niño that also suppressed activity in the Atlantic Ocean.

Also of note this season is an unusual gap in storm formation during the first three weeks of August. That time usually sees several nameable storms, but for some reason there were none.

Storms

Hurricane Alma

Alma satellite image and storm track.

A complex formation involving a tropical wave and a gale over the Gulf of Tehuantepec formed Tropical Depression One-E on May 24. It slowly strengthened into the first tropical storm of the season two days later. Alma then turned north, moving near the edge of a subtropical ridge over Mexico. Its rate of intensification picked up, and Alma became a hurricane on May 28. Alma reached Category 3 intensity on May 30. The hurricane began to weaken almost immediately thereafter under the influence of wind shear and cool water. Alma rapidly fell apart, and degenerated into a weak low pressure area by June 1.

The hurricane was of no threat to land. Alma the one of the earliest major hurricanes in the east Pacific, and the second-strongest May hurricane. The only other May major hurricane was 2001's Adolph.^{[#endnote_NHCAlma]}

Tropical Storm Boris

On June 8, an area of disturbed weather that had absorbed a tropical wave spawned Tropical Depression Two-E. It became a tropical storm the next day. After peaking on June 9, steering currents collapsed and Boris stalled out in the ocean between two ridges of high pressure. Shear increased, and the cyclone weakened to a depression on June 10. The next day, Boris degenerated into a remnant low. The remnant drifted east and then southeast before dissipating on June 12.

Boris dumped heavy rains on sections of the Mexican coast. Several homes at an unspecified location were damaged. There were no deaths.^{[#endnote_NHCBoris]}

Tropical Storm Cristina

Cristina satellite image and storm track.

An area of disturbed weather near Panama drifted to a location south of Puerto Angel and organized into Tropical Depression Four-E on July 9. It moved westward through a hostile environment of strong shear. The wind shear disrupted the cyclone's convection and weakened its circulation. Despite the shear, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm early on July 12 and was named Cristina. This broke down the steering ridge, and Cristina turned to the north and peaked on July 14. Then, the wind shear won out and Cristina quickly weakened. Cristina dissipated into a swirl of clouds on July 16, without ever threatening land.^{[#endnote_NHCCristina]}

Hurricane Douglas

Douglas satellite image and storm track.

A relaxation of wind shear allowed a tropical wave to organize and become Tropical Depression Five-E on July 20. It rapidly strengthened into a tropical storm. It moved northward, turned westward, and then northwestward. Douglas strengthened into a hurricane on July 22 and peaked as a Category 2 the next day. It began to weaken due to cooler waters and an eyewall replacement cycle. Douglas's forward speed increased due to a strong ridge of high pressure. The hurricane continued to decay. The hurricane fell to a tropical storm on July 24 and a tropical depression two days later. Convection ceased on July 26, and a swirl of clouds was all that remained. The remnant lost its closed circulation and degenerated later that day as it continued to accelerate. Douglas had no impact on land.^{[#endnote_NHCDouglas]}

Hurricane Elida

Elida satellite image and storm track.

A tropical wave generated into Tropical Depression Six-E on July 23. It moved westward and reached storm strength 12 hours after it formed. Elida rapidly deepened, developing a "pinhole" eye, becoming a hurricane on July 24 and a major hurricane six hours later. Elida's rapid intensification continued. It became a Category 5 hurricane for six hours on July 25.

Despite moving over warm waters, Elida began to weaken because it began an eyewall replacement cycle. When the cycle ended, the cyclone was over cooler water and unsteadily weakened. Elida fell to a storm on July 27. It degenerated into a remnant low and turned to the northeast. The remnant dissipated over the open ocean about 465 nm west of Los Angeles, California.

Elida is one of the fastest intensifying eastern Pacific hurricanes. Its rate of intensification is rivaled only by 1997's Linda. Elida had no direct impact on land. However, it did send heavy waves along the shores of Mexico. No one was killed and there was no damage.^{[#endnote_NHCElida]}

Hurricane Fausto

Fausto satellite image and storm track.

After a rather lengthly lull punctuated by only Tropical Depression Seven-E, a tropical wave formed Tropical Depression Eight-E on August 21. Initially taking a westward track, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Fausto on August 22. It turned to the west-northwest and stayed on that path for the next six days. Fausto steadily strengthened and intensified into a hurricane on August 22. It continued to intensify, peaking as a Category 4 on August 24 and also substantially increased in size. The hurricane began to weaken thereafter, and was a minimal tropical storm by the time it entered the CPHC's area of responsibility on August 27. The tropical cyclone dropped to a depression and spun down into a non-convective swirl of clouds on August 28.

That was not the end of Fausto, however. Fausto's remnants passed north of the Hawaiian Islands uneventfully until they interacted with a tropical upper-tropospheric trough on August 30. In combination with warm waters, a tropical depression with some subtropical features developed. At this time it was located around latitude 30N. By September 1, Fausto had redeveloped into a tiny but tropical ministorm. Its rebirth was brief, however, as a mid-latitude cyclone absorbed the system early on September 3, which finally finished Fausto.^{[#endnote_NHCFausto]}

Fausto's regeneration north of Hawaii was unusual but not unprecedented. The other time this happened since 1966 was in the 1975 season. That time, another TUTT absorbed the remnant of Hurricane Ilsa, which led to the formation of Hurricane 12 at high latitude. Other tropical cyclones have strengthened north of Hawaii, but the actual formation of one is rare.^{[#endnote_CPHCFausto]}

Tropical Storm Alika

An area of convection acquired a closed circulation and became Tropical Depression One-C on August 22. It stayed disorganized for the next several days. It organized more fully and intensified into a tropical storm on August 25 and was named Alika, which is Hawaiian for "Alex". After peaking as a moderately-strong tropical storm on August 25, wind shear caused by the pre-Ele tropical depression and an upper-level low near Hawaii weakened the storm to a depression on August 27. Alika dissipated the next day, having never threatened land.^{[#endnote_CPHCAlika]}

Tropical Storm Genevieve

Genevieve satellite image and storm track.

A tropical wave formed Tropical Depression Nine-E on August 26. It was upgraded and named Genevieve the next day. It moved westward and strengthened to nearly a hurricane, peaking on August 28. At that point, the cyclone encountered cooler waters. Genevieve weakened slowly, dropping to a depression on August 30. The depression hung on until it lost convection on the second day of September. A swirl of remnant clouds persisted for a few more days. Genevieve had no impact on land.^{[#endnote_NHCGenevieve]}

Hurricane/Typhoon Ele

Ele satellite image and storm track.

An eastern extension of the monsoon trough south of Hawaii organized into Tropical Depression Two-C on August 27 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Ele six hours later. Despite the nearby presence of Alika, Ele developed rapidly and strengthened into a hurricane on August 28. After contributing to the demise of Alika, Ele continued strengthening. It reached Category 2 intensity late on August 28 and became a major hurricane 6 hours later. Ele then crossed the International Date Line and became a typhoon. Typhoon Ele turned to the northwest after crossing the dateline and continued to strengthen. It reached Category 4 before turning north and weakening again. After briefly restrengthening back into a Category 4, the typhoon declined and turned to the northwest. Ele fell to a tropical storm on September 7, a depression on September 9, and dissipated shortly after that. Ele was of no threat to land.^{[#endnote_CPHCEle]}

Hurricane Hernan

Hernan satellite image and storm track.

A weak wave in the ITCZ organized into Tropical Depression Ten-E on August 30. It headed west-northwest and quickly intensified into a tropical storm and later a hurricane. Hernan then began a rapid deepening, and reached Category 5 intensity on September 1. It was at that intensity for 12 hours. Hernan then tracked over cooler waters. It weakened steadily, and wind shear continued its deteoriation. Hernan degenerated into a remnant low on September 6. The low turned to the southwest and dissipated three days later.

Hernan passed close enough to Socorro Island to bring strong winds to the island. ^{[#endnote_NHCHernan]} In addition, the hurricane's large and powerful wind field caused waves between 12 to 20 feet in height and strong rip currents to the southwest coast of California. [Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena (September 2002)] Other that there, Hernan had no significant impact on land.

Tropical Storm Iselle

Iselle satellite image and storm track.

Part of the same tropical wave that formed Tropical Depression Seven in the Atlantic organized into Tropical Depression Twelve-E on September 15. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Iselle the next day. It headed northwest and paralleled the coast of Mexico. Iselle strengthened into nearly a hurricane late on September 17. While near its peak intensity, a trough abruptly recurved the system to the northeast. Shear also increased, and Iselle fell apart. It weakened to a depression on September 19. It degenerated the next day and rapidly disintegrated, dissipating on September 20.

Iselle threatened parts of southwestern Mexico and warnings and watches were issued for that area. Heavy rains were reported over parts of the Baja California Peninsula. There were no reports of damage or casualties.^{[#endnote_NHCIselle]}

Tropical Storm Julio

An area of convection and disturbed weather possibly related to outflow from Hurricane Isidore in the Atlantic developed a circulation on September 23 and organized into Tropical Depression Thirteen-E on September 25. The depression headed northward and strengthened into a tropical storm the same day. Julio turned to the northwest and peaked just before landfall near Lazaro Cardenas on September 26. The storm quickly dissipated over Mexico.

No one was killed by Julio. Around 100 houses in Acapulco and Zihuatanejo were damaged or washed away by flash flooding.^{[#endnote_NHCJulio]}

Hurricane Kenna

Kenna satellite image and storm track.

Main article: Hurricane Kenna

A disturbance possibly associated with a tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E on October 22. It strengthened into a tropical storm that same day and a hurricane the next. The next day, Kenna became the third Category 5 hurricane of the season. A trough over Mexico recurved the hurricane, and it started accelerating towards Mexico. Despite moving over waters that were still warm, wind shear weakened the system to a minimal Category 4 by the time of its landfall late on October 25. Mountainous terrain quickly weakened Kenna, and the system dissipated early on October 26.^{[#endnote_NHCKenna1]}

Hurricane Kenna was the third-strongest Pacific hurricane to make landfall. It was also the strongest October hurricane. Kenna's total damage was from $5–100 million (2002 USD. It killed four people in Mexico and left thousands homeless. The low death toll is likely due to massive evacuations in San Blas and elsewhere ahead of the hurricane.^{[#endnote_NHCKenna2]}

Tropical Storm Lowell

Lowell satellite image and storm track.

A weak tropical wave located over the open ocean organized into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E on October 22. It strengthened into a tropical storm the next day. Just after that, shear increased. Lowell's convection was disrupted, and its center of circulation became exposed. The cyclone crossed into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility on October 26. The shear relaxed, and the depression restrengthened into a tropical storm. Lowell drifted in slow steering currents until it approached Huko. The proximity of the other system caused a gradual weakening, and Lowell dissipated on October 31.^{[#endnote_NHCLowell]}

Hurricane/Typhoon Huko

Huko satellite image and storm track.

An area of convection formed Tropical Depression Three-C on October 24. It drifted north, strengthened into a tropical storm, and was named Huko (Hawaiian for Hugo). On October 28, it became a hurricane. Due to the proximity of Lowell, shear weakened the cyclone. After Lowell's demise, Huko again became a hurricane. It crossed the dateline and became a typhoon. Huko eventually recurved and lasted until November 7. At that time, it went extratropical, having never threatened land. ^{[#endnote_CPHCHuko]}

Other storms

In addition to these storms, there were also four tropical depressions that did not strengthen into named storms. They were Three-E, Seven-E, Eleven-E, and Sixteen-E. Only Eleven-E threatened land. It resulted in warnings and watches being issued for parts of the Baja California Peninsula, but it weakened to a remnant low before strengthening into a storm. No deaths or damages were reported. Sixteen-E was the final storm of the season. It lasted for two days in November and dissipated on the sixteenth day of that month.

2002 storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 2002. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2008 Pacific hurricane season. This is the same list used for the 1996 season. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

Alma
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan

Iselle
Julio
Kenna
Lowell
Marie (unused)
Norbert (unused)
Odile (unused)
Polo (unused)

Rachel (unused)
Simon (unused)
Trudy (unused)
Vance (unused)
Winnie (unused)
Xavier (unused)
Yolanda (unused)
Zeke (unused)

In addition to these, three central Pacific names — Alika, Ele, and Huko — were used. This was the first usage for all of them. As of the start of the 2006 season, this is the most recent season to use names from this list.

Retirement

The World Meteorological Organization retired one name in the spring of 2003: Kenna. It will be replaced in the 2008 Pacific hurricane season by Karina. As of 2006, it is the most recent season to have a name retired.

References

External links

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