   hurricane kenna was the second-most intense pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of mexico in recorded history. 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 165&nbsp;mph (265&nbsp;km/h) on october 25 while located about 255&nbsp;mi (410&nbsp;km) southwest of puerto vallarta, jalisco. weakening as it turned to the northeast, the hurricane struck near san blas, nayarit, with winds of 140&nbsp;mph (225&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;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. ==meteorological history==  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 favor
2002_Pacific_hurricane_season 2002_in_Mexico Category_5_Pacific_hurricanes Hurricanes_and_tropical_depressions_of_the_Gulf_of_California Pacific_hurricanes_in_Mexico Retired_Pacific_hurricanes