2002 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 2002 – Nov 30, 2002 · Season ended
The 2002 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 3 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 60, 253% of the average.
2002 season at a glance
- Named storms: 3 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 2 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 60.3, 253% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 28.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alika, August 21.
- First hurricane: Ele, August 28.
- First major storm: Ele, August 29.
- Last storm to dissipate: Huko, November 7.
- All systems tracked: 4, including 1 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 2002 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalmaegi | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Alika | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Ele | – | C4 | 927 mb | — |
| Huko | – | C1 | 967 mb | — |
- Kalmaegi: Kalmaegi formed in the Central Pacific in July 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Alika: Alika formed in the Central Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Ele: Ele formed in the Central Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Huko: Huko formed in the Central Pacific in October 2002 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2002
Hurricane Ele was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 927 mb, on August 31. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
12 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2002
No storm in the 2002 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 2002 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 5th of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 3rd for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 6th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
2002 storm names
The 2002 season used 4 names: Kalmaegi, Alika, Ele, Huko.
Central Pacific names are used in order across years from four lists, so a season picks up where the last one stopped. See the Central Pacific name lists.
2002 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2002?
The 2002 Central Pacific hurricane season had 3 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 4 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 1.6 named storms, 0.8 at 64 kt or more and 0.5 major per season. The first to form was Alika and the last was Huko.
What was the strongest storm of 2002?
Hurricane Ele. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 927 mb on August 31. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 12 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 64% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2002 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2002, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Huko, dissipated on November 7. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.