Hurricane Kenna facts for kids

Hurricane Kenna was a very powerful hurricane that happened during the 2002 Pacific hurricane season. It was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit Mexico from the Pacific. Kenna caused a lot of damage and was a big event in 2002.

Kenna started forming in the eastern Pacific Ocean on October 22, 2002. It quickly grew much stronger, becoming a huge Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale by October 25. This scale helps scientists measure how strong a hurricane is, with Category 5 being the most powerful.

Just before hitting land, Hurricane Kenna weakened slightly to a Category 4 storm. It made landfall near a city called Puerto Vallarta in Mexico later that same day. Only two other Pacific hurricanes had hit Mexico with more power: Hurricane Madeline in 1976 and another storm in 1959 that didn't have a name. Sadly, four people lost their lives because of Hurricane Kenna.

Images for kids

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  Hurricane Kenna making landfall in Mexico on October 25

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  Damage in Puerto Vallarta