The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an above-average season which produced fifteen named storms. Eight hurricanes formed, including three Category 5 hurricanes, which tied for the most in a season with 1994 and 2018. Moreover, the season was a near-average season in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), with a total index of 125 units. The season officially began on May 15 in the East Pacific Ocean, and on June 1 in the Central Pacific and they both ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific basin. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year. Tropical activity began with the formation of Tropical Storm Alma on May 24, before it became a major hurricane. The strongest hurricane of the season, Kenna, formed on October 22 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane two days later. June was extremely quiet with no hurricanes forming during the month. August was active with four systems developing, of which two became hurricanes. Activity decreased appreciably in September throughout November as most of the storms remained weak and short-lived. The final storm of the season, Tropical Depression Sixteen-E, dissipated on November 16, about two weeks before the official end. Land impact was relatively significant. Kenna made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, located in the Mexican state of Jalisco on October 25, killing four people. Kenna was, at the time, the second-most powerful hurricane to ever strike the western coast of Mexico, hitting with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h), as well as the strongest landfall in terms of windspeed until Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Julio made landfall in Mexico, and Tropical Storm Boris dumped torrential rain along the Mexican coast, despite remaining offshore. 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. Damage across the basin reached $101.23 million (2002 USD), while 7 people were killed by Julio and Kenna. Seasonal summary The season officially began on May 15 in Eastern Pacific and on June 1 in Central Pacific; both ended on November 30. There were 16 tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean in the season. Of those, eight became hurricanes, of which