Timeline of The 2002 Pacific Hurricane Season

Timeline Of The 2002 Pacific Hurricane Season

The 2002 Pacific hurricane season saw three tropical cyclones reach Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The strongest storm this year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, located in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25. The hurricane killed four people and was the third most powerful hurricanes to ever strike the western coast of Mexico, hitting with winds of 140 mph (as well as the strongest landfall in terms of windspeed since Hurricane Madeline in 1976). Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Julio made landfall in Mexico, and Tropical Storm Boris dumped torrential rain along the Mexican coast, despite remaining offshore.

The season officially began on May 15, 2002 for the Eastern Pacific, and June 1, 2002 for the Central Pacific. It ended on November 30 for both regions. These dates delimit the time when most tropical cyclones form in this part of the Pacific Ocean. The first system formed on May 24 and the final depression dissipated on November 16.

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