2002 Eastern Pacific hurricane season
Hurricane Hernan 2002
Hurricane Hernan reached Category 5 strength over the eastern Pacific in September 2002. It stayed offshore, but its large wind field generated surf along Mexico and Southern California.
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161 mph
Sep 1, 2002 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Strengthening southwest of Mexico
Hernan developed when a tropical wave merged with a disturbance in the eastern Pacific. It became a depression on August 30 and a hurricane the next day, southwest of Acapulco. Light wind shear and warm water supported rapid intensification as it moved northwest.
On September 1, Hernan reached maximum one-minute winds of 140 kt and a central pressure of 921 hPa. Eyewall replacement cycles then interrupted its structure, and cooler water contributed to further weakening. It became a remnant low on September 6.
Waves beyond the hurricane's track
Hernan passed close enough to Socorro Island to bring strong winds, though reported damage was small. Along Mexico's coast, waves of roughly 15 to 20 feet caused minor beach erosion. Large surf and strong rip currents also reached Southern California.
Moisture from the weakening system lingered offshore from California and produced light showers. The center made no landfall, and the saved account describes limited effects on land despite the hurricane's offshore strength.
Further reading
NOAA IBTrACS v04r01 historical track archive
Wikipedia, 2002 Pacific hurricane season
Official report (PDF) — National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report.
QUICK ANSWERS
Hernan in brief
What was Hurricane Hernan's highest wind speed?
161 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Sep 1, 2002, 12:00 PM UTC.
What category was Hurricane Hernan?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Sep 1, 2002, 12:00 PM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Hurricane Hernan's lowest pressure?
921 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Sep 1, 2002, 12:00 PM UTC.
When did Hurricane Hernan occur?
The archived track runs from Aug 30, 2002, 06:00 AM UTC to Sep 6, 2002, 06:00 PM UTC, with the tropical stage from Aug 30, 2002, 06:00 AM UTC to Sep 6, 2002, 03:00 PM UTC.
Where did Hurricane Hernan form?
In the Eastern Pacific basin, in the 2002 season. Its first archived position is 13.5°N, 103.1°W on Aug 30, 2002, 06:00 AM UTC.
Did Hurricane Hernan make landfall?
No archived position places Hurricane Hernan's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology