2002 Pacific Hurricane Season - Season Summary

Season Summary

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 in the 2002 season. Of those, six became hurricanes, of which five became major hurricanes by reaching Category 3 or higher on the Saffir Simpson Scale. Three reached Category 5 intensity, a record shared with the 1994 season. 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 and two hurricanes formed, of which one was a major hurricane. In the eastern Pacific proper, the season saw below average activity in terms of the number of systems, but about average activity in terms of the strength of storms. A moderately strong El Niño, ongoing during the season, may have contributed to the disproportionate number of major hurricanes, as well as reduced activity in the Atlantic. 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.

Only three systems, Tropical Storms Boris and Julio and Hurricane Kenna, had significant impact on land. Julio and Kenna were the only landfalls. Most of the season's impact, including all casualties and most of the damage, was due to Kenna.