The 2002 Pacific hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation over the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and east of the International Date Line. The official bounds of each Pacific hurricane season are dates that conventionally delineate the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), beginning on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific proper (east of 140°W) and June 1 in the Central Pacific (140°W to the International Date Line), and ending on November 30 in both areas. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of year. The first tropical cyclone of the season, Hurricane Alma, developed on May 24; the final system, Tropical Depression Sixteen-E, dissipated on November 16.

Nineteen tropical depressions developed during the 2002 season, with fifteen further strengthening into named tropical storms; eight became hurricanes, of which six attained major hurricane status. Activity was generally near normal, with the number of tropical storms and hurricanes matching the respective 1991–2020 averages; however, the number of major hurricanes was above the average of four for the same period. Hurricanes Elida, Hernan, and Kenna achieved Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale, tying a record set in 1994 for the most storms to do so in one season since reliable records began in 1971.

Hurricane Kenna in late October was by far the most impactful storm of the season. After weakening from its peak intensity—which was marked by a minimum barometric pressure of , making it the fourth-most intense Pacific hurricane on record—Kenna made landfall on the coast of western Mexico at Category 4 status with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). These winds, combined with a storm surge of up to , devastated the area surrounding the fishing village of San Blas, Nayarit, where as many as 95% of homes were damaged or destroyed; four people were killed. The name Kenna would later be retired on account of the hurricane's effects in Mexico.

Aside from Kenna, effects on land were relatively light during the season. Tropical Storm Julio struck southern Mexico in late September, causing torrential rainfall; flash floods damaged structures, and slick roads contributed to a bus accident that killed three people. Tropical Storms Boris and Iselle generated heavy rainfall in Mexico without coming ashore, while Tropical Depression Eleven-E prompted the issuance of a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for portions of the Baja California peninsula but dissipated off the coast without impact. Hurricanes Alma and Fausto were noted for unusual meteorological feats, though neither storm affected land; Alma followed 2001's Hurricane Adolph as only the second known Pacific major hurricane in the month of May, while Fausto regenerated into a tropical storm far to the north of the Hawaiian Islands, where tropical cyclones are rarely observed.

Prior to 2015, two time zones were utilized in the Eastern Pacific basin: Pacific east of 140°W, and Hawaii−Aleutian from 140°W to the International Date Line. For convenience, each event is listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first, using the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC), with the respective local time included in parentheses. Figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (knots, miles, or kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury. This timeline documents the formation of tropical cyclones as well as the strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It also includes information that was not released while the storm was active, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is included.

Timeline of events

May May 15 The 2002 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.

May 24

18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression One-E forms from an area of low pressure about 560 mi (900 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima.

May 26 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression One-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Alma about 655 mi (1,055 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima.

May 28 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Alma strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 785 mi (1,260 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.

May 29 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Alma strengthens to Category 2 intensity about 815 mi (1,315 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.

May 30

06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, May 29) at Hurricane Alma strengthens to Category 3 intensity about 635 mi (1,020 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, making it the first major hurricane of the season; it simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of . 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Alma weakens to Category 2 intensity about 535 mi (860 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

May 31 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, May 30) at Hurricane Alma weakens to Category 1 intensity about 490 mi (790 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Alma weakens into a tropical storm about 500 mi (805 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

June June 1 The 2002 Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins. 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, May 31) at Tropical Storm Alma weakens into a tropical depression about 510 mi (825 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Alma degenerates into a remnant low about 510 mi (825 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

June 8 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at A tropical depression forms from an area of disturbed weather about 175 mi (280 km) west-southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero.

June 9

00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 8) at The tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Boris about 175 mi (280 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 8) at Tropical Storm Boris reaches maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 155 mi (250 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima.

June 10 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Boris weakens into a tropical depression about 115 mi (185 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima.

June 11 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Boris degenerates into a remnant low about 160 mi (260 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima.

June 27 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Three-E forms from a tropical wave about 1,115 mi (1,800 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).

June 28

06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 27) at Tropical Depression Three-E reaches a minimum barometric pressure of about 1,265 mi (2,040 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

June 29 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 28) at Tropical Depression Three-E is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 1,670 mi (2,685 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates shortly thereafter.

July July 9 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Four-E forms from a tropical disturbance about 345 mi (555 km) south of Acapulco, Guerrero.

July 12 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 11) at Tropical Depression Four-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Cristina about 645 mi (1,040 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 14 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Cristina reaches maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 670 mi (1,075 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 15 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Cristina weakens into a tropical depression about 680 mi (1,095 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

July 16 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Cristina is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 840 mi (1,355 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates six hours later.

July 17 06:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. HST, July 16) at The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) begins tracking a tropical depression over the extreme southwestern portion of the Central Pacific basin, though it is operationally classified as a tropical disturbance at the time.

July 19

00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, July 18) at The JTWC issues a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the aforementioned tropical depression.

July 20 06:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. HST, July 19) at The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which is the primary Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the Western Pacific basin, begins tracking the tropical depression over the extreme southwestern Central Pacific basin. One hour later, the JMA reports that the tropical depression has crossed the International Date Line; the agency soon upgrades it to Tropical Storm Kalmaegi. 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at The JTWC reports that the tropical depression has crossed the International Date Line; the agency issues its first official warning on the system six hours later, giving it the number 15W as part of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Five-E forms from a tropical wave about 425 mi (685 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Five-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Douglas about 405 mi (650 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.

July 22

00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 21) at Tropical Storm Douglas strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 420 mi (675 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Douglas strengthens to Category 2 intensity about 520 mi (835 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Douglas reaches maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 565 mi (910 km) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.

July 23 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 22) at Tropical Depression Six-E forms from a tropical wave about 295 mi (475 km) south of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Six-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Elida about 290 mi (465 km) south-southwest of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Douglas weakens to Category 1 intensity about 750 mi (1,205 km) west of Manzanillo, Colima.

July 24 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 23) at Tropical Storm Elida strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about 505 mi (815 km) west-southwest of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Elida rapidly strengthens to Category 3 intensity, skipping Category 2 status, about 580 mi (935 km) west-southwest of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. This makes it the second major hurricane of the season. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Douglas weakens into a tropical storm about 1,140 mi (1,835 km) west of Manzanillo, Colima. 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Elida strengthens to Category 4 intensity about 660 mi (1,065 km) west-southwest of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

July 25 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT) at Hurricane Elida strengthens to Category 5 intensity about 835 mi (1,345 km) west of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, making it the first of three such storms this season. It simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of .