2002 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2002 – Nov 30, 2002 · Season ended
The 2002 East Pacific hurricane season produced 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 103, 81% of the average.
2002 season at a glance
- Named storms: 12 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 6 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5, including 3 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 102.6, 81% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 51.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alma, May 26.
- First hurricane: Alma, May 28.
- First major storm: Alma, May 30.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 16E, November 16.
- All systems tracked: 16, including 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Boris | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| TD 3E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Cristina | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Douglas | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| Elida | – | C5 | 921 mb | — |
| TD 7E | – | TD | 1008 mb | — |
| Fausto | – | C4 | 936 mb | — |
| Genevieve | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
| Hernan | – | C5 | 921 mb | — |
| TD 11E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Iselle | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Julio | – | TS | 1000 mb | La Mira, Mexico |
| Kenna | – | C5 | 913 mb | Villa Hidalgo, Mexico |
| Lowell | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 16E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
- Alma: Alma formed in the East Pacific in May 2002 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Boris: Boris formed in the East Pacific in June 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 3E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Cristina: Cristina formed in the East Pacific in July 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Douglas: Douglas formed in the East Pacific in July 2002 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Elida: Elida formed in the East Pacific in July 2002 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 921 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 7E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Fausto: Fausto formed in the East Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Genevieve: Genevieve formed in the East Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Hernan: Hernan formed in the East Pacific in August 2002 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 921 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 11E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Iselle: Iselle formed in the East Pacific in September 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Julio: Julio formed in the East Pacific in September 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It made landfall near La Mira, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Kenna: Kenna formed in the East Pacific in October 2002 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 913 mb. It made landfall near Villa Hidalgo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Lowell: Lowell formed in the East Pacific in October 2002 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 16E: This system formed in the East Pacific in November 2002 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2002
Hurricane Kenna was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 913 mb, on October 25. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
5 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 1 matched it. It produced 14% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2002
2 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2002 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 39th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 38th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 25th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2002 storm names
The 2002 season used 12 names: Alma, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida, Fausto, Genevieve, Hernan, Iselle, Julio, Kenna, Lowell.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the name Kenna, so it will not be used again.
2002 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2002?
The 2002 East Pacific hurricane season had 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 16 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Alma and the last was Lowell.
What was the strongest storm of 2002?
Hurricane Kenna. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 913 mb on October 25. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 5 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 14% 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, Tropical Depression 16E, dissipated on November 16. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.