The 2002 hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to  November 30th, is winding down.   For many years, people throughout the Caribbean and U.S. Gulf coast will remember the 2002 hurricane season by the names Isidore and Lili, which claimed a total of 14 lives.

Last spring, Atlantic Basin forecasters estimated we would experience 12 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 intense hurricanes (winds exceeding 111mph.)  Half-way through the season on September 2nd, experts dialed down their estimates anticipating a total of 8 named storms, 3 hurricanes, and 1 intense hurricane.  Dr. Gray from Colorado University as well as NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center cited a sharp increase in tropical cyclone inhibiting conditions as factors in revising their early estimates downward.  They expected these cyclone suppressing conditions to persist through the remainder of the 2002 season.  Those conditions included below average Sea Surface Temperatures, above average Sea Level Pressure, above average strength of easterly trade winds, a strengthening El Niño, and most importantly stronger than average upper tropospheric westerly winds throughout the Atlantic tropics.

Perhaps these experts were the most surprised by what the month of September actually brought, including 9 named storms, 4 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes! 

2002 Atlantic Hurricane Season Summary (to date October 28th)

#    Name                                    Dates              Max  wind (kt)    Deaths
1    Tropical Storm Arthur            14-16 Jul                     50            0
2    Tropical Storm Bertha             4-9 Aug                      40            1
3    Tropical Storm Cristobal         5-8 Aug                      50            0
4    Tropical Storm Dolly           28 Aug – 4 Sep              60            0
5    Tropical Storm Edouard          1-6 Sep                      65            0
6    Tropical Storm Fay                  5-7 Sep                     60            0
7    Tropical Depression Seven      7-8 Sep                       35            0
8    Hurricane Gustav                    8-12 Sep                     90            1
9    Tropical Storm Hanna             11-14 Sep                   50            3
10  Hurricane Isidore                    14-26 Sep                  125            6
11  Tropical Storm Josephine        17-19 Sep                   40            0
12  Hurricane Kyle                         20 Sep                       85            0
13  Hurricane Lili                            21 Sep                      145            8
    Marco
    Nana
    Omar
    Paloma
    Rene
    Sally
    Teddy
    Vicky
    Wilfred     

    The one-two punch brought on by Hurricanes Kyle and Lili truly brought on the greatest damage as localities were unable to recover from the blast of the first storm before the second hurricane hit.

    FEMA continues to provide disaster relief funding following 5 major disaster declarations resulting from these storms.  Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas will receive federal funds that will go towards individuals, families, state and local governments for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities, debris removal.  In addition, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will assist state and local governments in actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

    Only time will tell what the final 30 days of the 2002 hurricane season will bring.  You can track the latest developments and learn how to prepare for hurricanes on FEMA’s website (http://www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes) as well as NOAA’s National Hurricane Center’s site (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov).