Ураган Кенна: самый мощный ураган в восточной части Тихого океана в 2002 году.

Category 5 Pacific hurricane in 2002
the Pacific hurricane of 2002

Hurricane Kenna was the fourth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Eastern Pacific basin, and at the time the third most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season. After forming on October 22 to the south of Mexico from a tropical wave, forecasters consistently predicted the storm to strengthen much less than it actually did. Moving into an area of favorable upper level conditions and warm sea surface temperatures, Kenna quickly strengthened to reach peak winds of as a Category 5 hurricane, on October 25, while located about 255 mile (410 km) southwest of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Weakening as it turned to the northeast, the hurricane made landfall near San Blas, Nayarit as a Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h), before dissipating on October 26 over the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. The name "Kenna" was retired from the list of Pacific hurricane names due to its effects on Mexico, which included US$101 million in damage and four deaths. The worst of the hurricane's effects occurred between San Blas in Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, where over 100 people were injured and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. 95% of the buildings in San Blas were damaged, and hundreds of buildings were destroyed along coastal areas of Puerto Vallarta.

The origin of Hurricane Kenna can be traced to a tropical wave moving westward through the Caribbean Sea on October 16, possibly the same wave that passed near Barbados two days earlier. The wave entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on October 19, and a tropical disturbance along the wave axis gradually became better organized. Conditions favored continued development, and Dvorak classifications began late on October 20. Early on October 22, the system developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen E while located about 375 mile (604 km) south of Manzanillo, Colima. The depression quickly became better organized with a great increase in convection near the center, and six hours after forming it strengthened into Tropical Storm Kenna. Upper level outflow and banding features improved in an organization, as well. With warm water temperatures of over 29 °C (84 °F) and updated model forecasts anticipating light amounts of vertical wind shear, forecasters predicted Kenna to slowly intensify to reach winds of within 72 hours of October 22. The storm moved to the west northwest around the periphery of a mid level high pressure system, and initially failed to strengthen further with much of its convection being associated with outer rainbands. On October 23, the outer rainbands dissipated and convection became more concentrated near the center, which coincided with a steady increase in strength. Late on October 23, Kenna intensified into a hurricane while located about 380 mile (612 km) southwest of Manzanillo. Early on October 24 Kenna became a major hurricane, and in a 24‑hour period the hurricane more than doubled its windspeed from winds to After turning to the north and northeast in response to the flow ahead of a large mid to upper level trough, Kenna attained peak winds of early on October 25 while located about 255 mile (410 km) southwest of Puerto Vallarta, the third Category 5 hurricane of the season. A Hurricane Hunter flight into the hurricane while it was near peak intensity recorded a pressure of 913 mbar (hPa),

Quickly after peaking, wind shear from the approaching trough weakened the hurricane, and by six hours after reaching peak intensity, the winds in Hurricane Kenna dropped to , after the eye nearly dissipated. Despite a 27 mbar increase in pressure in 12 hours, convective activity increased prior to Kenna making landfall. On October 25, Hurricane Kenna made landfall near San Blas in the state of Nayarit, as a Category 4 hurricane, with estimated sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Hurricane Kenna was at the time, the third most intense Pacific hurricane to strike Mexico. The hurricane rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of western Mexico, and the circulation dissipated on October 26 over the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. The remnants continued northeastward into the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States later that day, producing rainfall across the region. 10,000 near Mazatlán, and 15,000 near flood prone areas. Civil authorities closed all schools and docks in potentially affected areas. The Mexican Red Cross prepared for the storm by shipping 215 tonnes of relief supplies such as food, water, clothing, and medicine to the Red Cross branch in Jalisco. Assistance from the Yucatán Peninsula delivered 10 tonnes of food and water, as well. Officials took security measures in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, where the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation was meeting during the passage of the hurricane. Early forecasts indicated a possible threat to the meeting, causing the government to prepare for a potential alternate site.

Few official surface observations are available for the passage of the hurricane. Upon making landfall, Kenna was accompanied with an estimated 16 feet (5 m) storm surge in San Blas. The surge also affected Puerto Vallarta, with reports of 10 feet (3 m) waves rushing inland from the bay. The hurricane dropped about of precipitation while passing about 60 mile (97 km) east of the offshore archipelago, Islas Marías. There, sustained winds reached an estimated The highest recorded sustained wind on land was about at Tepic, Nayarit, with wind gusts at Puerto Vallarta reaching with 1,540 houses damaged and 8,800 people affected. There, large commercial shrimp boats were swept up to 900 feet (274 m) inland from their docks. An elderly woman died in the city when the wall of her house collapsed on her. Elsewhere in Nayarit, flying debris killed a person in Santiago Escuintla. There, two elderly men drowned, one by falling into a river. Both were believed to have been killed during the storm as they fled their homes. Federal authorities lost communications with at least 30 Indian villages due to the high winds of the hurricane. ruining several vehicles. The passage of the hurricane destroyed 150 stores near the ocean and extensively damaged three hotels. Damage to the city's port was minor. The hurricane injured at least 52 in Puerto Vallarta and dozens in San Blas from widespread flying glass and other forms of debris, Rainfall from the hurricane spread across northern Mexico, causing minor flash floods and mudslides.

In the spring of 2003, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Kenna from its rotating eastern Pacific name lists due to the deaths and damage this hurricane caused, and it will never be used again for another tropical cyclone. Kenna was replaced with Karina for the 2008 season.