Hurricane Season 2002

Last Updated on Sunday, November 17, 2002

Atlantic Hurricane season: June 1 - November 30

E. Pacific Hurricane season: May 15 - November 15

Atlantic's (2001) ISIDORE was retired and replaced with IKE in 2007.

Eastern Pacific 2001 hurricane KENNA likewise with the name KARINA in 2007.

Other seasons: 2004 2003 2001 2000

Saffir-Simpson Scale: 1: 74-95mph, 2: 96-110mph, 3:111-130mph, 4: 131-155mph, 5: 155+ mph

See information in chart below:

To Date: (Atlantic) 12 NAMED STORMS (39+ mph), 4 HURRICANES (75+ mph), 2 MAJOR HURRICANES (115+ mph)
To Date: (E. Pacific) 12 NAMED STORMS (39+ mph), 6 HURRICANES (75+ mph), 4 MAJOR HURRICANES (115+ mph)

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ATLANTIC Name (if >39mph) Dates of activity Top Winds Synopsis of Activity

Trop. Depr. #1A Arthur 7/14-7/16 60mph Arthur formed just off the mid-Atlantic coast but was swept by a cold front and became extratropical at the latitude of Maine and Nova Scotia (about 500 miles offshore).

Trop. Depr. #2A Bertha 8/4-8/5, 8/7-8/9 40mph Started as a tropical storm just off the Louisiana coast and moved inland. Areas to the north of Slidell and Baton Rouge, LA received up to 8 inches of rain as he low had weakened. The same low pressure system moved back to the south into the Gulf of Mexico where it regained depression status (at only 30mph). It moved inland between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, TX, and weakened.

Trop. Depr. #3A Cristóbal 8/5-8/8 45mph Formed off of the Carolinas and moved toward Florida before being pushed eastward and its rainfall absorbed by a strong cold front. In the process, the storm became extratropical.

Trop. Depr. #4A Dolly 8/29-9/4 65mph Dolly was the first Cape Verde storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It started as an area of thunderstorms (a tropical wave of low pressure) that moved off the west coast of Africa. It became a named storm just six hours after it was named a depression in the Eastern Atlantic, and had sustained winds of 65 mph within one day. in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, it encountered strong notherly shear. These strong upper-level winds pushed the storm northward and took the thunderstorms with it, exposing the loe center and weakening it.

Trop. Depr. #5A Edouard 9/1-9/5 40mph Edouard fromed about 200 miles from St. Augustine, FL from an old trough of low pressure that was responsible for bringing rain to drought-affected areas in the Mid-Atlantic. It was being watched when a low started to form at the end of the trough as it was pulling away from the East Coast. For the first day, southwesterly shear would push any storms away from the center when it tried to form. After two days of meandering in the Gulf Stream, it turned southwest and made landfall just north of Daytona Beach, FL. It crossed back into the Gulf of Mexico between Ocala and Tampa, FL. The northwesterly shear that had been plaguing Edouard the whole time, along with a new depression a few hundred miles to the west, continued. The National Hurricane Center called Edouard "tenacious" on the evening of 9/5 as it eventually dissipated into a mass of louds and rain.

Trop. Depr. #6A Fay 9/5-9/7 60mph This storm became a depression as Edouard was falling apart just a few hundred miles to the east. Reconnaissance aircraft flew to the storm and found a circulation and winds strong enough to be classified a depression. Six hours later, the depression became Fay, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic season (the name Fay replaced Fran from 1995). For over 24 hours (and once a low center could be found), the storm did not move, but had strengthened to a storm with 60 mph sustained winds. The low center relocated itself just northwest of Palacios, TX, making landfall with 50 mph winds.

Trop. Depr. #7A (unnamed) 9/7-9/8 35mph T.D. 7A was spotted through satellite pictures and automated buoy reports. the depression, small in size, had been meandering in the eastern Atlantic since the existence of Dolly, and was located almost 1,200 miles southeast of Bermuda. it dissipated just 24 hours after the first advisory.

Subtrop. Depr. #8A Gustav 9/8-9/12 90mph *This is the first time a subtropical system has directly become a named storm. The subtropical system appeared more like a regular low pressure system (mid-latitude in nature) at the start. However, it was expected to lose the "front' and develop into a completely tropical system. It did just that, becoming completely tropical and even brushed along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Gustav quickly turned toward the north and northeast, and in doing so, became the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm also affected Patriot Day (Sept. 11) services in New York and much of the northeast with winds gusting to near 45 mph in some areas. These areas remained sunny, though, with the help of high pressure that had just broken a heat wave in the Ohio Valley. Gustav then rocketed toward the northeast and affected the Canadian Maritime provinces. The Canadian Government issued High Wind and Heavy Rain warnings for southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and northwestern Newfoundland. While moving over western Newfoundland at near 40mph, it was declared extratropical on September 12.

Trop. Depr. #9A Hanna 9/11-9/14 45mph The ninth tropical depression formed just over 200 miles away from Florida in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. It took three days for the storm to organize (the low center crept west and the storm clouds blew east due to shear. Reconnaissance aircraft and satellite confirmed that the clouds were trying to form over the center, and with the winds increasing, the depression was upgraded to the eighth tropical strom of the season. The storm finally aproached shore near Mobile, AL and made landfall on September 14. The remnant moisture brought relief to the extreme drought conditions acrosss the southeast United States.

Trop. Depr. #10A Isidore 9/14-9/15, 9/16-9/26 125mph Just as Hanna was about to move inland, reconnaissance aircraft investigated a tropical wave just off the northeast coast of South America and found the characteristic circulation. A preview advisory was sent, noting that the wave would be named a depression later in the day. By the evening of September 14, the depression was located over northern Venezuela. With in 24 hours, the low center broadened and was downgraded to a tropical wave. Late September 16, the tropical wave was reclassified as a tropical depression (keeping the same number designation) and was positioned to the south of Jamaica. An upper level low pressure area was hindering the development for a while, but slowly moved off to the west allowing the characteristic upper level high to form allowing the depression to be upgraded to tropical storm Isidore. Tropical storm advisories were posted for the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and parts of Cuba. Isidore moved northwest, passign Jamaica to its east and then curved toward western Cuba, missing the Cayman Islands to its west. As it approached Cuba, it was upgraded to a hurricane on September 18's 11PM AST advisory. Isidore quickly then became the Atlantic Ocean's first major hurricane and had winds of 125mph as it brushed la Península Yucatán, including Cancún and Cozumél. The eye moved along the northern coast of the peninsula before turning southwest and making landfall between Progreso and Mérida on the afternoon of September 22. By this time, the Texas and Louisiana coasts began to focus on Isidore's movement. Isidore remained stationary in the Mérida area for at least the next two days. The storm reintensified to 65mph winds and moved inland just to the east of New Orleans, LA, dumping over a foot of rain on a city that is below sea level on the morning of September 26. The last tropical advisory was issued that day at 5pm with the center 50 miles away from Jackson, MS. The low center eventually merged with a cold front and brought heavy rain through Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio (3+" in Cincinnati, Dayton, Lexington KY, and Columbus, OH -> locally up to 6" was reported) before heading to the northeast and off the Canadian coast by late Septmber 27.

Trop. Depr. #11A Josephine 9/17-9/18 60mph The eleventh tropical depression seemed to form in a similar way as Gustav, only this time, it was further out in the Atlantic, some 700+ miles east of Bermuda, and was not classified as tropical until requirements were met. It strengthened enough to become Josephine, but was being pushed northeastward into the Atlantic by a cold front. It was absorbed by the cold front early on September 18, becoming extratropical in the process. The storm had briefly strengthened to 60mph according to ship reports on the final advisory.

Subtrop. Depr. #12A Kyle 9/20-10/12 85mph The twelfth depression started out much like what happened to Gustav. It started as a low pressure center with cold front that wound itself up and tried to become tropical. It became the second subtropical storm of the season and continued to gain tropical characteristics, and took two days to do so. The 5pm advisory listed the storm as completely tropical. Kyle then remained stationary, which can cause weakening over a long period of time. It did start moving to the southwest on September 24 and increased to 45mph. It became a hurricane shortly thereafter and continued moving to the west-southwest. After moving in this direstion for about four days, it curved to due west and weakened to a tropical storm with 70mph winds on September 28. It appeared to move closer to the Bahamas, but turned north, headed toward Bermuda, and weakened to a depression at 35mph. It regained tropical storm status on October 1. For the next several day, Kyle remained stationary between the Bahamas and Bermuda, fluctuating in intensity for several more days. It became a minimal tropical storm for the third time on the morning of October 6th, but still was in the same area (between Bermuda and the East Coast). Over the next few days it was shoved southwestward by an approaching cold front and an upper-level low trying to move around it. By October 10th, it was 250 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, FL. It was uncertain as to whether Kyle could remain in a hostile environment. Kyle then turned to the north and moved over Charleston, SC with 45 mph winds (fourth time it had become a tropical storm) around midday October 11th. The storm moved rapidly to the northeast and was near Nantucket Island, MA when it started to become extratropical (started to look like regular cold front). *The last advisory (#89) was posted at 11AM on October 12th and will go down in history as the third longest lasting tropical system in the Atlantic Ocean.

Trop. Depr. #13A Lili 9/21-9/26, 9/26-10/4 145mph T.D. 13A formed as Isidore entered the Gulf of Mexico, and Kyle was in the mid-Atlantic trying to gain tropical characteristics. It was named a depression on September 21 at 5PM, and was located almost 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Tropical storm warnings had been posted for the islands even though the depression had not strengthened. It was upgraded to tropical storm Lili on the afternoon of September 23. As it approached Hait and the Dominican Republic, the center became broad and disorganized and was declassified as a tropical depression on September 26. The low pressure center reorganized again and was re-upgraded to a tropical storm 12 hours later (hence the dates as shown!). Slow strengthening occurred as the center zigzagged toward Jamaica. On September 28, Lili had 50mph sustained winds. As it approached the Cayman Islands (south of Cuba), it was upgrded to a hurricane on the morning of September 30. It crossed Cuba and went into the Gulf of Mexico, intensifying quickly and became the Atlantic's second major hurricane of the season. It had maximum winds of 145mph, but had weakened to just 100mph in just six hours. It made landfall around 10am EDT on the western edge of Vermilion Bay, LA, and was the first landfalling hurricane since 1999's Irene that affected Florida. The storm moved to the north-northeast and became extratropical. The final National Huricane Center advisory was posted at 5AM EDT on October 4 and had the center 75 miles southwest of Memphis, TN. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center still labeled it a depression at 11AM EDT, located near Paducah, KY and moving northeast. The remnants affected Bowling Green KY, Louisville KY, Evansville IN, and Cincinnati, OH, bringing rain and wind.

Trop. Depr. #14A (unnamed) 10/14-10/16 35mph Tropical Depression #14A formed in the northwest Caribbean sea and remained stationary for its first 24 hours, located about 200 miles southwest of the Cayman Islands. Tropical storm watches were placed for the Florida keys and the northwest Bahamas, with warnings for western Cuba and surrounding islands. Reconnaissance aircraft was only able to check out the west half of the storm due to flight restrictions. Stil remaining a depression, it crossed over central Cuba on October 16. An approaching cold front from the Gulf of Mexico, related to an early "Nor'easter," started to pull the clouds away from the center of the storm. The low became a hybrid and eventually extratropical as it was drawn into the cold front on the afternoon of October 16.

EASTERN PACIFIC Name (if >39mph) Dates of activity Top Winds Synopsis of Activity

Trop. Depr. #1E Alma 5/24-6/1 105mph The first tropical depression of the 2002 Hurricane Season formed some 400 miles west of the coast of southwestern Mexico. Alma moved westward away from land and had near hurricane force winds by the 28th. By the 29th, it had exceeded the 74mph threshold and was over 1,000 miles from Acapulco, Mexico. It strengthened, but curved northward, encountered colder water, and then gradually weakened southwest of Cabo San Lucas, MEX.

Trop. Depr. #2E Boris 6/8-6/11 60mph The second named storm of the season, it moved parallel to the Mexican coastline, remaining a persistent threat to the area (watches were posted). However, the storm eventually slowed down and weakened as it pulled up cooler water from the ocean.

Trop. Depr. #3E (unnamed) 6/27-6/29 35mph This depression formed further out in the Pacific, but never really had the chance to strengthen.

Trop. Depr. #4E Cristina 7/9-7/16 65mph Cristina formed from a tropical depression just southwest of Acapulco, MEX. It took a slightly north of due west track and strengthened in the still warm water of the Eastern Pacific. It moved too far north and weakened when the water was colder.

Trop. Depr. #5E Douglas 7/20-7/26 105mph Douglas formed to the west of Acapulco and continued moving west. this storm encountered shear and also moved at a fairly fast rate, causing the stor to weaken.

Trop. Depr. #6E Elida 7/23-7/30 155mph Elida was the first major hurricane of the 2002 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. In doing so, it also became the first Saffir-Simpson category 5 storm in over a year. The last categoery 4 storm was Juliette in October, 2001, with winds of only 145mph (the strength of Andrew). Elida moved away from the coast of Mexico and weakened rapidly as it curved to the north.

Trop. Depr. #7E (unnamed) 8/6-8/8 35mph The seventh tropical depression of the season was short-lived and was weakened by upper level winds and a nearby low pressure area before it could intensify.

Trop. Depr. #8E Fausto 8/21-8/28 145mph Fausto is the second major hurricane to form in the eastern Pacific this season. It started well off the coast of Mexico and moved in a westnorthwesterly direction when it had winds of 145mph. This direction of movement leads the storm into colder water and caused rapid weakening.

Trop. Depr. #9E Genevieve 8/25-9/1 70mph Genevieve developed on the heels of Fausto. It was a more compact storm in size. The cooler waters caused by Fausto may have hindered Genevieve from becoming a hurricane. It moved west and then northwest, well away from (and around) las Islas Revillagigedos

Trop. Depr. #10E Hernán 8/30-9/6 160mph Hernán became a depression right after Dolly did the same in the eastern Atlantic. Hernán was the latest in a string of stroms and hurricanes to plague the Pacific ocean. During this past week, Fausto and Genevieve existed in the Eastern Pacific, Hawaii (Central Pacific) had seen a tropical storm (Alika) and a hurricane (Ele), and the Western Pacific had typhoon Rusa. On September 1, Hernán became the strongest hurricane (third major hurricane in 2002 as well) in the Eastern Pacific since 1997's Linda. It continued on a north-northwesteryly track, encountered cooler water and wekend to a depression by 9/5. While doing so, the high clouds blown from the storm brought rainfall to Southern california (from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA and inland).

Trop. Depr. #11E (unnamed) 9/5-9/8 35mph T.D. #11E formed about 250 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, MEX and was forecast to move toward the Baja Peninsula (spawning advisories in the area). While approaching the area, it encountered the same shear that had pulled Fausto's moisture away and into the U.S. southwest. The remnants of this tropical depression brought rain to Phoenix, and surrounding desert areas. The rain from T.D. 11E and Fausto were badly needed in the southwest.

Trop. Depr. #12E Iselle 9/15-9/20 65mph Iselle formed from a trough area off the coast of Mexico, south of Cabo San Lucas. It was close enough to shore to warrant Tropical storm advisories for Lázaro Cárdenas to Puerto Vallarta. Iselle moved paralle to the Mexican coast, and passed la Isla de Socorro on its way toward the Cabo San Lucas area. It had reached just northwest of this city and stalled. Upwelling (bringing colder water from beneath the surfaces) caused its demise on the morning of September 20.

Trop. Depr. #13E Julio 9/25-9/26 40mph Julio formed as a deression just off the coast of Mexico near Zihuatenejo. The depression was upgraded to a tropical storm and then moved inland and weakened. The influence of Isidore in the Gulf of Mexico may have helped to pull Julio inland.

Trop. Depr. #14E Kenna 10/21-10/25 160mph After nearly a month's hiatus, the activity started up again in the Eastern Pacific with Kenna, upgraded from the fourteenth tropical depression of the east Pacific this year. It started to the southwest of Acapulco, MEX and slowly curved to the northwest. Kenna made landfall just north of Puerto Vallarta, MEX (San Blás area) with 140 mph winds. Moving northeast at 25+ mph it quickly weakened to a remnant low over north-central Mexico. Remaining rainfall moved into south Texas, an area that was just hit with severe weather and minor flooding just days earlier. The low joined with a front along the southeast United States.

Trop. Depr. #15E Lowell 10/22-10/30 50mph Tropical depression #15E formed about 1,000 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, MEX (or much further west than Kenna, which formed the previous day). As it strengthened, it moved into an area of shear (south of a large high pressure system in the North Pacific. It moved west of 140 degrees west longitude, as a depression, late October 25 (Central Pacific area), and was located nearly 1,000 miles southeast of Hilo, HI. It restrengthened to tropical storm status, but still stayed nearly 900 miles away from Hawaii, and still east from then tropical storm Huko. It weakened to a tropical depression again and started to dissipate while still well southeast of the Hawaiian islands by October 30.

Trop. Depr. #16E (unnamed) 11/13-11/15 35mph This tropical depression formed during the last few days of the season, and the low pressure already encountered a hostile area southwest of Manzanillo, MEX, which is typical for the conditions in the East Pacific this time of year. Dry air from the north and strong westerly winds had become barriers to the depression's strengthening. T.D. #16E moved slightly south of due west and headed away from the Mexican coast. The west winds completely tore apart the system, and the last advisory was issued late November 15, the final day of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season.

ATLANTIC	Name (if >39mph)	Dates of activity	Top Winds	Synopsis of Activity
Trop. Depr. #1A	Arthur	7/14-7/16	60mph	Arthur formed just off the mid-Atlantic coast but was swept by a cold front and became extratropical at the latitude of Maine and Nova Scotia (about 500 miles offshore).
Trop. Depr. #2A	Bertha	8/4-8/5, 8/7-8/9	40mph	Started as a tropical storm just off the Louisiana coast and moved inland. Areas to the north of Slidell and Baton Rouge, LA received up to 8 inches of rain as he low had weakened. The same low pressure system moved back to the south into the Gulf of Mexico where it regained depression status (at only 30mph). It moved inland between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, TX, and weakened.
Trop. Depr. #3A	Cristóbal	8/5-8/8	45mph	Formed off of the Carolinas and moved toward Florida before being pushed eastward and its rainfall absorbed by a strong cold front. In the process, the storm became extratropical.
Trop. Depr. #4A	Dolly	8/29-9/4	65mph	Dolly was the first Cape Verde storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It started as an area of thunderstorms (a tropical wave of low pressure) that moved off the west coast of Africa. It became a named storm just six hours after it was named a depression in the Eastern Atlantic, and had sustained winds of 65 mph within one day. in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, it encountered strong notherly shear. These strong upper-level winds pushed the storm northward and took the thunderstorms with it, exposing the loe center and weakening it.
Trop. Depr. #5A	Edouard	9/1-9/5	40mph	Edouard fromed about 200 miles from St. Augustine, FL from an old trough of low pressure that was responsible for bringing rain to drought-affected areas in the Mid-Atlantic. It was being watched when a low started to form at the end of the trough as it was pulling away from the East Coast. For the first day, southwesterly shear would push any storms away from the center when it tried to form. After two days of meandering in the Gulf Stream, it turned southwest and made landfall just north of Daytona Beach, FL. It crossed back into the Gulf of Mexico between Ocala and Tampa, FL. The northwesterly shear that had been plaguing Edouard the whole time, along with a new depression a few hundred miles to the west, continued. The National Hurricane Center called Edouard "tenacious" on the evening of 9/5 as it eventually dissipated into a mass of louds and rain.
Trop. Depr. #6A	Fay	9/5-9/7	60mph	This storm became a depression as Edouard was falling apart just a few hundred miles to the east. Reconnaissance aircraft flew to the storm and found a circulation and winds strong enough to be classified a depression. Six hours later, the depression became Fay, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic season (the name Fay replaced Fran from 1995). For over 24 hours (and once a low center could be found), the storm did not move, but had strengthened to a storm with 60 mph sustained winds. The low center relocated itself just northwest of Palacios, TX, making landfall with 50 mph winds.
Trop. Depr. #7A	(unnamed)	9/7-9/8	35mph	T.D. 7A was spotted through satellite pictures and automated buoy reports. the depression, small in size, had been meandering in the eastern Atlantic since the existence of Dolly, and was located almost 1,200 miles southeast of Bermuda. it dissipated just 24 hours after the first advisory.
Subtrop. Depr. #8A	Gustav	9/8-9/12	90mph	*This is the first time a subtropical system has directly become a named storm. The subtropical system appeared more like a regular low pressure system (mid-latitude in nature) at the start. However, it was expected to lose the "front' and develop into a completely tropical system. It did just that, becoming completely tropical and even brushed along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Gustav quickly turned toward the north and northeast, and in doing so, became the first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm also affected Patriot Day (Sept. 11) services in New York and much of the northeast with winds gusting to near 45 mph in some areas. These areas remained sunny, though, with the help of high pressure that had just broken a heat wave in the Ohio Valley. Gustav then rocketed toward the northeast and affected the Canadian Maritime provinces. The Canadian Government issued High Wind and Heavy Rain warnings for southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and northwestern Newfoundland. While moving over western Newfoundland at near 40mph, it was declared extratropical on September 12.
Trop. Depr. #9A	Hanna	9/11-9/14	45mph	The ninth tropical depression formed just over 200 miles away from Florida in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. It took three days for the storm to organize (the low center crept west and the storm clouds blew east due to shear. Reconnaissance aircraft and satellite confirmed that the clouds were trying to form over the center, and with the winds increasing, the depression was upgraded to the eighth tropical strom of the season. The storm finally aproached shore near Mobile, AL and made landfall on September 14. The remnant moisture brought relief to the extreme drought conditions acrosss the southeast United States.
Trop. Depr. #10A	Isidore	9/14-9/15, 9/16-9/26	125mph	Just as Hanna was about to move inland, reconnaissance aircraft investigated a tropical wave just off the northeast coast of South America and found the characteristic circulation. A preview advisory was sent, noting that the wave would be named a depression later in the day. By the evening of September 14, the depression was located over northern Venezuela. With in 24 hours, the low center broadened and was downgraded to a tropical wave. Late September 16, the tropical wave was reclassified as a tropical depression (keeping the same number designation) and was positioned to the south of Jamaica. An upper level low pressure area was hindering the development for a while, but slowly moved off to the west allowing the characteristic upper level high to form allowing the depression to be upgraded to tropical storm Isidore. Tropical storm advisories were posted for the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and parts of Cuba. Isidore moved northwest, passign Jamaica to its east and then curved toward western Cuba, missing the Cayman Islands to its west. As it approached Cuba, it was upgraded to a hurricane on September 18's 11PM AST advisory. Isidore quickly then became the Atlantic Ocean's first major hurricane and had winds of 125mph as it brushed la Península Yucatán, including Cancún and Cozumél. The eye moved along the northern coast of the peninsula before turning southwest and making landfall between Progreso and Mérida on the afternoon of September 22. By this time, the Texas and Louisiana coasts began to focus on Isidore's movement. Isidore remained stationary in the Mérida area for at least the next two days. The storm reintensified to 65mph winds and moved inland just to the east of New Orleans, LA, dumping over a foot of rain on a city that is below sea level on the morning of September 26. The last tropical advisory was issued that day at 5pm with the center 50 miles away from Jackson, MS. The low center eventually merged with a cold front and brought heavy rain through Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio (3+" in Cincinnati, Dayton, Lexington KY, and Columbus, OH -> locally up to 6" was reported) before heading to the northeast and off the Canadian coast by late Septmber 27.
Trop. Depr. #11A	Josephine	9/17-9/18	60mph	The eleventh tropical depression seemed to form in a similar way as Gustav, only this time, it was further out in the Atlantic, some 700+ miles east of Bermuda, and was not classified as tropical until requirements were met. It strengthened enough to become Josephine, but was being pushed northeastward into the Atlantic by a cold front. It was absorbed by the cold front early on September 18, becoming extratropical in the process. The storm had briefly strengthened to 60mph according to ship reports on the final advisory.
Subtrop. Depr. #12A	Kyle	9/20-10/12	85mph	The twelfth depression started out much like what happened to Gustav. It started as a low pressure center with cold front that wound itself up and tried to become tropical. It became the second subtropical storm of the season and continued to gain tropical characteristics, and took two days to do so. The 5pm advisory listed the storm as completely tropical. Kyle then remained stationary, which can cause weakening over a long period of time. It did start moving to the southwest on September 24 and increased to 45mph. It became a hurricane shortly thereafter and continued moving to the west-southwest. After moving in this direstion for about four days, it curved to due west and weakened to a tropical storm with 70mph winds on September 28. It appeared to move closer to the Bahamas, but turned north, headed toward Bermuda, and weakened to a depression at 35mph. It regained tropical storm status on October 1. For the next several day, Kyle remained stationary between the Bahamas and Bermuda, fluctuating in intensity for several more days. It became a minimal tropical storm for the third time on the morning of October 6th, but still was in the same area (between Bermuda and the East Coast). Over the next few days it was shoved southwestward by an approaching cold front and an upper-level low trying to move around it. By October 10th, it was 250 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, FL. It was uncertain as to whether Kyle could remain in a hostile environment. Kyle then turned to the north and moved over Charleston, SC with 45 mph winds (fourth time it had become a tropical storm) around midday October 11th. The storm moved rapidly to the northeast and was near Nantucket Island, MA when it started to become extratropical (started to look like regular cold front). *The last advisory (#89) was posted at 11AM on October 12th and will go down in history as the third longest lasting tropical system in the Atlantic Ocean.
Trop. Depr. #13A	Lili	9/21-9/26, 9/26-10/4	145mph	T.D. 13A formed as Isidore entered the Gulf of Mexico, and Kyle was in the mid-Atlantic trying to gain tropical characteristics. It was named a depression on September 21 at 5PM, and was located almost 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Tropical storm warnings had been posted for the islands even though the depression had not strengthened. It was upgraded to tropical storm Lili on the afternoon of September 23. As it approached Hait and the Dominican Republic, the center became broad and disorganized and was declassified as a tropical depression on September 26. The low pressure center reorganized again and was re-upgraded to a tropical storm 12 hours later (hence the dates as shown!). Slow strengthening occurred as the center zigzagged toward Jamaica. On September 28, Lili had 50mph sustained winds. As it approached the Cayman Islands (south of Cuba), it was upgrded to a hurricane on the morning of September 30. It crossed Cuba and went into the Gulf of Mexico, intensifying quickly and became the Atlantic's second major hurricane of the season. It had maximum winds of 145mph, but had weakened to just 100mph in just six hours. It made landfall around 10am EDT on the western edge of Vermilion Bay, LA, and was the first landfalling hurricane since 1999's Irene that affected Florida. The storm moved to the north-northeast and became extratropical. The final National Huricane Center advisory was posted at 5AM EDT on October 4 and had the center 75 miles southwest of Memphis, TN. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center still labeled it a depression at 11AM EDT, located near Paducah, KY and moving northeast. The remnants affected Bowling Green KY, Louisville KY, Evansville IN, and Cincinnati, OH, bringing rain and wind.
Trop. Depr. #14A	(unnamed)	10/14-10/16	35mph	Tropical Depression #14A formed in the northwest Caribbean sea and remained stationary for its first 24 hours, located about 200 miles southwest of the Cayman Islands. Tropical storm watches were placed for the Florida keys and the northwest Bahamas, with warnings for western Cuba and surrounding islands. Reconnaissance aircraft was only able to check out the west half of the storm due to flight restrictions. Stil remaining a depression, it crossed over central Cuba on October 16. An approaching cold front from the Gulf of Mexico, related to an early "Nor'easter," started to pull the clouds away from the center of the storm. The low became a hybrid and eventually extratropical as it was drawn into the cold front on the afternoon of October 16.

EASTERN PACIFIC	Name (if >39mph)	Dates of activity	Top Winds	Synopsis of Activity
Trop. Depr. #1E	Alma	5/24-6/1	105mph	The first tropical depression of the 2002 Hurricane Season formed some 400 miles west of the coast of southwestern Mexico. Alma moved westward away from land and had near hurricane force winds by the 28th. By the 29th, it had exceeded the 74mph threshold and was over 1,000 miles from Acapulco, Mexico. It strengthened, but curved northward, encountered colder water, and then gradually weakened southwest of Cabo San Lucas, MEX.
Trop. Depr. #2E	Boris	6/8-6/11	60mph	The second named storm of the season, it moved parallel to the Mexican coastline, remaining a persistent threat to the area (watches were posted). However, the storm eventually slowed down and weakened as it pulled up cooler water from the ocean.
Trop. Depr. #3E	(unnamed)	6/27-6/29	35mph	This depression formed further out in the Pacific, but never really had the chance to strengthen.
Trop. Depr. #4E	Cristina	7/9-7/16	65mph	Cristina formed from a tropical depression just southwest of Acapulco, MEX. It took a slightly north of due west track and strengthened in the still warm water of the Eastern Pacific. It moved too far north and weakened when the water was colder.
Trop. Depr. #5E	Douglas	7/20-7/26	105mph	Douglas formed to the west of Acapulco and continued moving west. this storm encountered shear and also moved at a fairly fast rate, causing the stor to weaken.
Trop. Depr. #6E	Elida	7/23-7/30	155mph	Elida was the first major hurricane of the 2002 Eastern Pacific hurricane season. In doing so, it also became the first Saffir-Simpson category 5 storm in over a year. The last categoery 4 storm was Juliette in October, 2001, with winds of only 145mph (the strength of Andrew). Elida moved away from the coast of Mexico and weakened rapidly as it curved to the north.
Trop. Depr. #7E	(unnamed)	8/6-8/8	35mph	The seventh tropical depression of the season was short-lived and was weakened by upper level winds and a nearby low pressure area before it could intensify.
Trop. Depr. #8E	Fausto	8/21-8/28	145mph	Fausto is the second major hurricane to form in the eastern Pacific this season. It started well off the coast of Mexico and moved in a westnorthwesterly direction when it had winds of 145mph. This direction of movement leads the storm into colder water and caused rapid weakening.
Trop. Depr. #9E	Genevieve	8/25-9/1	70mph	Genevieve developed on the heels of Fausto. It was a more compact storm in size. The cooler waters caused by Fausto may have hindered Genevieve from becoming a hurricane. It moved west and then northwest, well away from (and around) las Islas Revillagigedos
Trop. Depr. #10E	Hernán	8/30-9/6	160mph	Hernán became a depression right after Dolly did the same in the eastern Atlantic. Hernán was the latest in a string of stroms and hurricanes to plague the Pacific ocean. During this past week, Fausto and Genevieve existed in the Eastern Pacific, Hawaii (Central Pacific) had seen a tropical storm (Alika) and a hurricane (Ele), and the Western Pacific had typhoon Rusa. On September 1, Hernán became the strongest hurricane (third major hurricane in 2002 as well) in the Eastern Pacific since 1997's Linda. It continued on a north-northwesteryly track, encountered cooler water and wekend to a depression by 9/5. While doing so, the high clouds blown from the storm brought rainfall to Southern california (from Santa Barbara, CA to San Diego, CA and inland).
Trop. Depr. #11E	(unnamed)	9/5-9/8	35mph	T.D. #11E formed about 250 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, MEX and was forecast to move toward the Baja Peninsula (spawning advisories in the area). While approaching the area, it encountered the same shear that had pulled Fausto's moisture away and into the U.S. southwest. The remnants of this tropical depression brought rain to Phoenix, and surrounding desert areas. The rain from T.D. 11E and Fausto were badly needed in the southwest.
Trop. Depr. #12E	Iselle	9/15-9/20	65mph	Iselle formed from a trough area off the coast of Mexico, south of Cabo San Lucas. It was close enough to shore to warrant Tropical storm advisories for Lázaro Cárdenas to Puerto Vallarta. Iselle moved paralle to the Mexican coast, and passed la Isla de Socorro on its way toward the Cabo San Lucas area. It had reached just northwest of this city and stalled. Upwelling (bringing colder water from beneath the surfaces) caused its demise on the morning of September 20.
Trop. Depr. #13E	Julio	9/25-9/26	40mph	Julio formed as a deression just off the coast of Mexico near Zihuatenejo. The depression was upgraded to a tropical storm and then moved inland and weakened. The influence of Isidore in the Gulf of Mexico may have helped to pull Julio inland.
Trop. Depr. #14E	Kenna	10/21-10/25	160mph	After nearly a month's hiatus, the activity started up again in the Eastern Pacific with Kenna, upgraded from the fourteenth tropical depression of the east Pacific this year. It started to the southwest of Acapulco, MEX and slowly curved to the northwest. Kenna made landfall just north of Puerto Vallarta, MEX (San Blás area) with 140 mph winds. Moving northeast at 25+ mph it quickly weakened to a remnant low over north-central Mexico. Remaining rainfall moved into south Texas, an area that was just hit with severe weather and minor flooding just days earlier. The low joined with a front along the southeast United States.
Trop. Depr. #15E	Lowell	10/22-10/30	50mph	Tropical depression #15E formed about 1,000 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, MEX (or much further west than Kenna, which formed the previous day). As it strengthened, it moved into an area of shear (south of a large high pressure system in the North Pacific. It moved west of 140 degrees west longitude, as a depression, late October 25 (Central Pacific area), and was located nearly 1,000 miles southeast of Hilo, HI. It restrengthened to tropical storm status, but still stayed nearly 900 miles away from Hawaii, and still east from then tropical storm Huko. It weakened to a tropical depression again and started to dissipate while still well southeast of the Hawaiian islands by October 30.
Trop. Depr. #16E	(unnamed)	11/13-11/15	35mph	This tropical depression formed during the last few days of the season, and the low pressure already encountered a hostile area southwest of Manzanillo, MEX, which is typical for the conditions in the East Pacific this time of year. Dry air from the north and strong westerly winds had become barriers to the depression's strengthening. T.D. #16E moved slightly south of due west and headed away from the Mexican coast. The west winds completely tore apart the system, and the last advisory was issued late November 15, the final day of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season.