2002 Atlantic hurricane season
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The 2002 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started June 1, 2002, and lasted until November 30, 2002.
Notable 2002 storms include Hurricane Isidore, Hurricane Kyle, and Hurricane Lili. Isidore made landfall three times, once each in western Cuba near Cabo Frances, the Yucatan Peninsula near Mérida, Yucatán, and finally at Grand Isle, Louisiana. Hurricane Kyle was not particularly intense (reaching only Category 1 strength), but became the third longest-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone when it meandered over the Atlantic for three weeks. Lili was the deadliest storm of the season, with 13 deaths attributed to it.
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Storms
Tropical Storm Arthur
Arthur formed out of a tropical depression off the coast of North Carolina on July 15. It then moved out to sea, strengthening slightly. By July 17, Arthur had become extratropical, and moved north over Newfoundland. It proceeded to weaken below gale strength. No damages or fatalities are associated with Arthur.
Tropical Storm Bertha
Bertha formed out of Tropical Depression Two on August 4, about 2 hours before landfall near Boothville, Louisiana. Bertha weakened to a tropical depression, but retained its circulation. The depression emerged back over the Gulf of Mexico on August 7. It made a second landfall near Kingsville, Texas on August 9, having made no significant gains in strength. One death is reported due to Bertha, a drowning due to heavy surf in Florida. No significant damage was reported.
Tropical Storm Cristobal
On August 7, a tropical depression off the coast of South Carolina strengthened into Tropical Storm Cristobal. The storm meandered eastward and was absorbed by a front two days later.
Tropical Storm Dolly
A tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa developed into Tropical Storm Dolly on August 29. Dolly tracked northwest and was absorbed by a mid-level trough on September 4. Dolly caused no reported deaths or damage.
Tropical Storm Edouard
Edouard formed out of an area of disturbed weather north of the Bahamas on September 2. Edouard strengthened slightly, and made landfall near Ormond Beach, Florida on September 5. Eduard crossed Florida, and emerged over the Gulf of Mexico as a minimal depression. Outflow from the stronger Tropical Storm Fay caused Tropical Depression Edouard to weaken further, and Edouard was eventually absorbed by Fay.
Tropical Storm Fay
Fay formed from a tropical depression on September 6 about 110 nm southeast of Galveston, Texas. It made landfall on September 7 near Port O'Connor, where it caused heavy rainfall. The remnants of Fay continued to produce large amounts of rain as they drifted into Mexico until they dissipated several days later. About $5 million in damages were reported in the US, but no estimates are available from Mexico. Fay is not believed to be responsible for any fatalities.
Hurricane Gustav
Gustav formed as a subtropical storm on September 8 while about 440 nm southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The next day, Gustav had taken on more tropical characteristics and was reclassified as a tropical storm. It moved generally northwest over the next day, bringing it within a few miles of Cape Hatteras. Before making landfall, Gustav turned to the northeast and away from North Carolina.
As it headed out to sea, Gustav strengthened, becoming a weak Category 2 hurricane. On September 12, it grazed eastern Nova Scotia, then made landfall at Newfoundland. Gustav lost all its tropical characteristics over Newfoundland, and dissipated three days later.
Gustav was the first time in NHC history where a subtropical storm had officially been given a name. Prior to 2002, no subtropical storms were given names. It was just considered an "unnamed subtropical storm".
Tropical Storm Hanna
A tropical depression in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico formed into Tropical Storm Hanna on September 12. Hanna remained poorly organized, but held together long enough to make landfall near the border between Mississippi and Alabama on September 14. Although weak and disorganized, Hanna caused three drowning deaths due to rip currents, and $20 million in damage, primarily to agriculture in Georgia.
Hurricane Isidore
Main article: Hurricane Isidore
On September 9, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. By September 14, it had developed to the point of being classified a tropical depression. It quickly degenerated, but on September 17 regained tropical depression status. The next day the storm was located just south of Jamaica, and it developed into Tropical Storm Isidore. 36 hours later, it had achieved hurricane status. On September 20, Isidore made landfall in western Cuba as a Category 1 storm, the first three landfalls it would make.
Isidore slowly left Cuba and restrengthened while approaching the Yucatan Peninsula. Just before landfall near Puerto Telchac on September 22, Isidore reached its peak intensity, with wind speeds of 110 kt, making it a strong Category 3 storm. Isidore meandered over the peninsula for more than a day, then returned to the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm. It headed north, but did not significantly redevelop. Isidore's final landfall was near Grand Isle, Louisiana on September 26. Isidore weakened to a depression and was absorbed by a front the next day.
In Mexico, there was one fatality, and 140 people reported missing at sea. Damage estimates for Mexico are not available, however tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed and agriculture was devastated by inland flooding. In the US, Isidore is blamed for four direct deaths, and $330 million in damage. Exact Cuban damages are unknown, but are reported to be severe.
Tropical Storm Josephine
Josephine was a short-lived tropical storm that formed on September 18 from a non-tropical low pressure system. The storm moved northeast in the open ocean until September 19 when it lost its tropical characteristics and was absorbed by a larger low.
Hurricane Kyle
A non-tropical low formed into Subtropical Depression Twelve about 715 nm east-southeast of Bermuda on September 20. It became Subtropical Storm Kyle the next day, and on the 22nd, Tropical Storm Kyle. Kyle drifted slowly westward, slowly strengthening. Kyle reached hurricane strength on September 25, but weakened to a tropical storm on the 28th. Kyle's strength continued to fluctuate, with it alternating between tropical depression and tropical storm several times.
Finally, on October 11, Kyle reached land and made its first landfall near McClellanville, South Carolina. While skirting the coastline of the Carolinas, it moved back over water, and made a second landfall near Long Beach, North Carolina later the same day. Kyle continued out to sea where it merged with a cold front on October 12.
Kyle was the fourth longest-lived Atlantic tropical cyclone, after Ginger of 1971, Faith of 1966, and Inga of 1969. Kyle caused relatively little damage, about $5 million, much of it from tornadoes. No deaths are reported from Kyle.
Hurricane Lili
Main article: Hurricane Lili
Hurricane Lili was an intense hurricane that caused deaths and destruction across the Windward Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and Louisiana in late September and early October. Thirteen fatalities are attributed to Lili, and it caused almost a billion dollars in damages to the United States.
2002 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 2002. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2008 season. This is the same list used for the 1996 season except for Cristobal, Fay, and Hanna, which replaced Cesar, Fran, and Hortense. Storms were named Cristobal, Fay, and Hanna for the first time in 2002. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired two names in the spring of 2003: Isidore and Lili. They will be replaced in 2008 by Ike and Laura.
See also
External links
- National Hurricane Center 2002 Atlantic hurricane season summary (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002atlan_summary.shtml)