Hurricane Kenna
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 22, 2002 |
Dissipated | October 26, 2002 |
Category 5 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 165 mph (270 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 913 mbar (hPa); 26.96 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 4 direct |
Damage | $101 million |
Areas affected | Western Mexico, Southern United States |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Kenna was the fourth-most intense
The name "Kenna" was retired from the list of Pacific hurricane names due to its effects on Mexico, which included US$101 million in damage and four deaths. The worst of the hurricane's effects occurred between San Blas in Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, where over 100 people were injured and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. 95% of the buildings in San Blas were damaged, and hundreds of buildings were destroyed along coastal areas of Puerto Vallarta.
Meteorological history
The origin of Hurricane Kenna can be traced to a tropical wave moving westward through the Caribbean Sea on October 16, possibly the same wave that passed near Barbados two days earlier. The wave entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on October 19, and a tropical disturbance along the wave axis gradually became better organized. Conditions favored continued development, and Dvorak classifications began late on October 20. Early on October 22, the system developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E while located about 375 mi (604 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima.[1] Initially the depression was disorganized, with little inner convective structure and sporadic deep convection. Computer models predicted an increase in wind shear by 60 hours; as such the National Hurricane Center forecast the depression to strengthen to a peak strength of 45 mph (72 km/h) before weakening.[2]
The depression quickly became better organized with a great increase in convection near the center, and six hours after forming it strengthened into Tropical Storm Kenna. Upper-level outflow and
Shortly after becoming a hurricane, Kenna began to
Quickly after peaking, wind shear from the approaching trough weakened the hurricane, and by six hours after reaching peak intensity, the winds in Hurricane Kenna dropped to 150 mph (240 km/h), after the eye nearly dissipated. Despite a 27
Preparations
About 27 hours before landfall,
Roughly 8,800 of the 9,000 residents in the landfall location,
Impact
Hurricane | Season | Wind speed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Otis | 2023 | 160 mph (260 km/h) | [11] |
Patricia | 2015 | 150 mph (240 km/h) | [12] |
Madeline | 1976 | 145 mph (230 km/h) | [13] |
Iniki | 1992 | [14] | |
Twelve | 1957 | 140 mph (220 km/h) | [15] |
"Mexico" | 1959 | [15] | |
Kenna | 2002 | [16] | |
Lidia | 2023 | [17] |
Few official surface observations are available for the passage of the hurricane. Upon making landfall, Kenna was accompanied with an estimated 16 feet (4.9 m)
In San Blas, strong winds from the hurricane damaged or destroyed 95% of the homes,[19] with 1,540 houses damaged and 8,800 people affected.[20] There, large commercial shrimp boats were swept up to 900 feet (270 m) inland from their docks. An elderly woman died in the city when the wall of her house collapsed on her.[1] Large portions of the city were covered with building debris and sand washed from the ocean.[8] Elsewhere in Nayarit, flying debris killed a person in Santiago Escuintla. There, two elderly men drowned, one by falling into a river. Both were believed to have been killed during the storm as they fled their homes.[1] In Santiago Ixcuintla, the hurricane damaged 3,770 homes,[20] and throughout Nayarit, strong winds from the hurricane destroyed the roofs of hundreds of houses.[21] Federal authorities lost communications with at least 30 Indian villages due to the high winds of the hurricane.[8] Kenna destroyed the entire banana, tobacco, and tomato crops in the rural areas of San Blas, Tecuala, and Acaponeta, leaving more than 700 subsistence farmers and their families in need of water and food.[20]
In Puerto Vallarta, about 100 mi (160 km) southeast of the landfall location, the storm surge resulted in an estimated damage total of US$5 million, primarily to hotels.[1] The surge flooded the hotels and other waterfront areas, and extended up to 330 feet (100 m) inland. Waist-deep floodwaters swept away vans and cars,[22] ruining several vehicles. The passage of the hurricane destroyed 150 stores near the ocean and extensively damaged three hotels. Damage to the city's port was minor.[23]
The hurricane injured at least 52 in Puerto Vallarta[24] and dozens in San Blas from widespread flying glass and other forms of debris,[1] with two people seriously injured due to the hurricane. Ten municipalities suffered substantial damage,[23] with insured damage in Mexico totaling US$96 million.[25] Rainfall from the hurricane spread across northern Mexico, causing minor flash floods and mudslides.[20]
The remnants of Kenna entered the south-central United States on October 26, resulting in enhanced rainfall in various locations.[1]
Aftermath
The
Backhoes and dump trucks gradually removed the debris and sand from San Blas.[8] Dozens of storeowners, municipal employees, and volunteers in Puerto Vallarta worked to clear the debris caused by the storm. The remaining stores, bars, and shops placed signs on their windows describing they were open in an effort to attract the tourists still in the town.[23] By about two months after the hurricane, most hotels, restaurants, and shops were reopened.[26]
Retirement
In the spring of 2003, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Kenna from its rotating eastern Pacific name lists due to the deaths and damage this hurricane caused, and it will never be used again for another tropical cyclone. Kenna was replaced with Karina for the 2008 season.[27][28]
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- Hurricane Willa – A similarly intense Category 5 hurricane that took a nearly identical track in late October 2018.
- Hurricane Patricia – The strongest and most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, took a nearly identical track in late October 2015.
- Hurricane Lidia (2023) - A powerful hurricane that make landfall at a similar intensity and a similar location.
- Hurricane Otis (2023) - A Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Acapulco near peak intensity, also initially forecast to remain a tropical storm.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Franklin, James L (December 26, 2002). Hurricane Kenna 2002 (PDF) (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Lawrence, Miles B.; National Hurricane Center (October 21, 2002). "Tropical Depression Fourteen-E Discussion One". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Stewart, Stacy; National Hurricane Center (October 22, 2002). "Tropical Storm Kenna Discussion Two". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Beven II, Jack L.; National Hurricane Center (2002). "Hurricane Kenna Discussion Nine". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Lawrence, Miles B.; Mainelli, Michelle M.; National Hurricane Center (November 30, 2001). Hurricane Kenna 2002 (Tropical Cyclone Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center (April 4, 2023). "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2022". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. A guide on how to read the database is available here. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Mexico's Pacific coast bracing for Hurricane Kenna". Deutsche Presse Agentur. October 25, 2002. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Booth, Mason (October 27, 2002). "Hurricane Kenna roars into Mexico". Disasterrelief.org. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Gil, Santiago; Horekens, John (2002). "Hurricane Kenna Information Bulletin" (PDF). Mexican Red Cross. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
- ^ a b Deutsche Presse Agentur (October 24, 2002). "Hurricane Kenna strengthens, soaking Mexico's coast". Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Brown, Daniel; Kelly, Larry (October 25, 2023). Hurricane Otis Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Kimberlain, Todd B.; Blake, Eric S.; Cangialosi, John P. (February 1, 2016). Hurricane Patricia (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- . Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ The 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season (PDF) (Report). Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. 1993. Retrieved November 24, 2003.
- ^ a b Blake, Eric S; Gibney, Ethan J; Brown, Daniel P; Mainelli, Michelle; Franklin, James L; Kimberlain, Todd B; Hammer, Gregory R (2009). Tropical Cyclones of the Eastern North Pacific Basin, 1949-2006 (PDF). Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ^ Franklin, James L. (December 26, 2002). Hurricane Kenna (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ^ Bucci, Lisa; Brown, Daniel (October 10, 2023). Hurricane Lidia Intermediate Advisory Number 31A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Roth, David M.; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. "Rainfall Summary for Hurricane Kenna". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- ^ National Climatic Data Center (2002). "Tropical Cyclones of 2002". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2002). "Mexico: Hurricane Kenna Information Bulletin No. 02/02". Retrieved January 1, 2007.
- ^ a b Nuño, Fernando (October 28, 2002). "Mexican subsistence farmers worst hit by hurricane Kenna". International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Kenna makes landfall, pounds Mexico's coast". Deutsche Presse Agentur. 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Puerto Vallarta begins to rebuild following storm Kenna". Agence French-Presse. October 26, 2002. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Hurricane Kenna leaves three dead, scores injured in Mexico". Xinhua News Agency. October 26, 2002. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
- ^ 2002 Tropical Cyclone Review (PDF) (Report). Guy Carpenter Instrat. January 30, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Retzlaff, Brenda (October 6, 2003). "Hurricane Olaf is Now a Tropical Storm". Vallarta Online. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Padgett, Gary (March 2008). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary". australiasevereweather.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- NOAAOffice of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. May 2003. p. 3-8. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
External links