It officially started on June 1, and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally limit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic Ocean.

It ended early however, with no tropical storms forming after October 6—a rare occurrence caused partly by El Niño conditions.

[1][2] On December 7, 2001, Gray's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2002 season, predicting above-average activity (13 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and about 2 of Category 3 or higher).

The sea-level pressure and trade wind strength in the tropical Atlantic were reported to be above normal, while sea surface temperature anomalies were on a decreasing trend.

[16] Upon becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression was moving quickly to the east-northeast, due to a deepening mid-level low south of the Canadian Maritimes.

The depression's track over the Gulf Stream allowed for steady strengthening,[17] and it intensified into Tropical Storm Arthur on July 15, as rainbands developed.

[18] Arthur attained peak winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) early on July 16 about 490 miles (790 km) south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

On July 19, the remnants of Arthur turned to a southeast drift between Newfoundland and Greenland, and by late in the day its winds decreased to below gale force.

[23] Across the Gulf Coast of the United States, Bertha dropped light to moderate rainfall; most areas received less than 3 inches (76 mm).

The second low moved eastward and slowly organized, developing into Tropical Depression Three late on August 5, about 175 miles (280 km/h) east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

The low-level circulation interacted with the approaching frontal zone, and by 0000 UTC on August 9 Tropical Storm Cristobal was absorbed by the cold front about 350 miles (560 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

[30] Although Cristobal remained offshore during its evolution, rough seas and rip currents were felt along portions of the U.S. East Coast.

[31] Offshore winds from the storm were credited with ending a widespread outbreak of jellyfish stings affecting bathers along the northern Atlantic coast of Florida.

[32] Later, the extratropical remnants of Cristobal continued to interact with a high pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic states to generate dangerous swimming conditions further north.

Along the south shore of Long Island, New York, significant wave heights reached 4 feet (1.2 m), and rip currents resulted in three drowning deaths on August 10: one in Montauk; one just east of Moriches Inlet; and one off Rockaway Beach.

Despite dry air and moderate upper-level shear, Edouard strengthened to a peak of 65 mph (105 km/h) winds, but the unfavorable conditions caught up with it.

The depression drifted south-southwest while strengthening into Tropical Storm Fay, reaching its peak strength of 60 mph (97 km/h) on the morning of September 6.

[43] The storm caused moderate flooding in some areas due to high rainfall amounts, which left about 400 homes with some form of damage.

[54] In early September, a tropical wave merged with a trough of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico and spawned a low-pressure system.

[55] To the east on Dauphin Island, Alabama, the storm caused coastal flooding which closed roads and forced the evacuation of residents.

Portions of Florida received high wind gusts, heavy rainfall, and strong surf that resulted in the deaths of three swimmers.

Just before landfall near Puerto Telchac on September 22, Isidore reached its peak intensity, with wind speeds of 125 mph (201 km/h), making it a strong Category 3 storm.

The storm weakened to a tropical depression over Mississippi early the following day, before becoming extratropical over Pennsylvania later on September 27 and then being absorbed by a frontal system.

[58] Isidore made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula of southern Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving $950 million (2002 USD) in damage in the country.

The storm continued generally northeastward, steered between a subtropical high to the northeast and a frontal system approaching from the west.

[70] Moderate rainfall accompanied its two landfalls in the United States,[71] causing localized flash flooding and road closures.

Kyle spawned at least four tornadoes,[69] the costliest of which struck Georgetown, South Carolina; it damaged 106 buildings and destroyed seven others, causing eight injuries.

[73] In Louisiana, wind gusts reaching 120 mph (190 km/h), coupled with over 6 inches (150 mm) of rainfall and a storm surge of 12 feet (3.7 m), caused $1.1 billion (2002 USD) in damage.

As the system reached the southwestern Caribbean Sea on October 12, convection increased, and a broad low-pressure area formed later that day.

Minimal impact was reported, which was limited to locally heavy rains over portions of Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands.