Hurricane Isidore was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused widespread flooding and heavy damage across Mexico, Cuba, and the United States in September 2002.

The primary impact from the storm was the heavy rainfall, which fell across southeast Mexico, and also from the central United States Gulf coast into the Ohio Valley.

On September 14, convection was well-organized enough around a small closed wind circulation to classify the system as Tropical Depression Ten near Trinidad and Tobago.

The wave continued west-northwestward through the Caribbean, and redeveloped into a tropical depression on September 17 while 140 miles (230 km) south of Jamaica.

Favorable conditions aloft with warm water temperatures allowed Isidore to quickly intensify to a peak of 125 mph (201 km/h) winds on September 21.

[8] High pressures to its north forced it southward, and Isidore made landfall at Telchac Puerto in Yucatán as a major hurricane on September 22.

The strengthening system hit Grand Isle, Louisiana on September 26 with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (105 km/h), but weakened quickly into a tropical depression after moving inland.

[13] Initially expected to remain north of the peninsula, hurricane warnings were issued just over a day prior to landfall, with no watch preceding Isidore's passage.

In preparation for the hurricane, the Red Cross mobilized its members across Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida days before Isidore's expected landfall.

[5] The rainfall, combined with a 12 feet (3.7 m) storm surge, destroyed 77 houses,[11] caused power outages, uprooted trees and blew off roofs.

[19] Downed trees and power lines were common over much of the northern Yucatán Peninsula,[22] and 75% of barns and warehouses were either severely damaged or destroyed.

[20][24] Isidore caused heavy rains in Guatemala due to upslope flow from the Pacific Ocean, which led to landslides and flooding across southern and western portions of the country.

The effects of back-to-back storms resulted in the loss of production of 14.4 million barrels (2,290,000 m3) of oil and 88.9 billion cubic feet (2.52×109 m3) of natural gas.

[5] Hurricane Isidore brought widespread heavy rainfall from the central Gulf coast into the Ohio Valley, with a maximum of 15.97 inches (406 mm) at Metairie, Louisiana.

[5] On account of the widespread flooding and heavy damage caused by the hurricane, the World Meteorological Organization retired name Isidore in the spring of 2003, and it will never again be used for a North Atlantic tropical cyclone.