Hurricane Kay (2022)
Hurricane Kay reached Category 2 in the Eastern Pacific between September 4, 2022 and September 13, 2022, with a lowest pressure of 968 mb, and made landfall. It killed 5 people directly, by the National Hurricane Center’s count.
Track and intensity
The whole track of Hurricane Kay, colored by strength, with the other storms of the 2022 season in the same basin behind it, and its wind and pressure hour by hour. Every fix is in the track table below.
The storm
- Basin
- Eastern Pacific
- Dates
- September 4, 2022 to September 13, 2022
- Peak strength
- Category 2, 85 kt (98 mph)
- Lowest pressure
- 968 mb (28.59 inHg)
- Landfall
- Yes
- Accumulated cyclone energy
- 8.5
- Tropical-storm-force wind reached
- 200 nmi (370 km, 230 mi) from the center at its widest
- Hurricane-force wind reached
- 30 nmi (56 km, 35 mi) from the center at its widest
- Eyewall radius at its peak
- 20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi)
- Overall size
- 300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) to the outermost closed isobar
- Peak gust in the best track
- 110 kt (127 mph)
- Fastest the center moved
- 15 kt (17 mph)
- Identifier
- EP122022
Deaths and damage
The sources count different things and are not added together.
National Hurricane Center
5 direct deathsnone recorded in the United States
The season table in NHC’s report archive, final report. Direct deaths are those caused by the storm’s own wind, water or surge, anywhere in the world.
NOAA Storm Events
1 deaths (1 direct, 0 indirect)$6.8 million
What National Weather Service offices recorded county by county in 4 states and marine areas, in the United States only. Property and crop damage as each office estimated it, which is not a national loss total.
Landfall
| Time (UTC) | Where | Position | Wind | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 20:35 | Coast unnamed here | 27.2N 114.3W | 60 kt (69 mph) | 982 mb |
Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.
In the United States
NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled June 2026.
- Deaths
- 1 (1 direct, 0 indirect)
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $6.8 million
- Crop damage
- none recorded
- Events recorded
- 116 in 18 reports from 4 states and marine areas
State by state
| State or marine area | Deaths | Injuries | Damage | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 0 | $6.5 million | 71 |
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | $167,000 | 13 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | $149,500 | 29 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | $20,000 | 3 |
What was recorded
71 flash flood, 18 heavy rain, 9 thunderstorm wind, 7 flood, 3 debris flow, 3 high wind, 3 hail, 1 storm surge/tide, 1 strong wind.
Wind reports
The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.
| Wind | How | Where | State | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 kt (109 mph) | Measured | San Diego County Mountains | California | Sep 9, 14:00 |
| 61 kt (70 mph) | Estimated | 7.15 NNE of ANEGAM | Arizona | Sep 12, 02:00 |
| 58 kt (67 mph) | Measured | STANLEY | New Mexico | Sep 10, 04:00 |
| 56 kt (64 mph) | Measured | (DRA)DESERT ROCK ARP | Nevada | Sep 14, 04:05 |
| 56 kt (64 mph) | Estimated | 5.01 SE of GOLDEN | New Mexico | Sep 10, 03:04 |
| 54 kt (62 mph) | Measured | Western Nevada Basin and Range | Nevada | Sep 7, 00:00 |
| 52 kt (60 mph) | Estimated | 7.74 SW of ORACLE | Arizona | Sep 12, 01:15 |
| 50 kt (58 mph) | Estimated | .57 E of ARLINGTON | California | Sep 9, 20:00 |
What forecast offices wrote
From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.
Trained spotter reports wind gust upwards of 60 mph that blew over a 40 foot travel trailer and pushed it 2 feet sideways.
Washoe, Nevada · Thunderstorm Wind · Sep 6, 23:00 UTC
Several roads that intersect Waterman Wash in the Rainbow Valley/Buckeye area were impassable/closed due to flooding. This included Riggs Road, Tuthill Road between between Pecos Road and Fairview Street, and Narramore Road between Dean Road and Airport Road. A Flood Control District of Maricopa County Gauge of Waterman Wash at Rainbow Valley Road reported a peak flow of 6.12 feet (1151 cfs), which was 2.82 feet above alarm stage. No damages or injuries were reported.
Maricopa, Arizona · Flash Flood · Sep 10, 01:00 UTC
The river gauge at the Village of Supai showed a 1.83 foot rise at 1045 AM. The stream gauge at the confluence with the Colorado River (about 10 miles down stream from the Village of Supai) had a 5.5 foot rise in about 45 minutes at 1145 AM. The crest was at 12.57 feet with a flow of 1735 CFS. Base flow is at about 7 feet with a flow of 70 CFS.
Coconino, Arizona · Flash Flood · Sep 11, 00:45 UTC
Localized heavy rainfall on Gavilan Ridge flowed downhill onto the McBride burn scar which caused flash flooding along Gavilan Canyon Road from Janet Drive northward to Airplane Canyon. Burn scar flash flooding resulted in rock and mud debris along the roadway. Damages are estimated.
Lincoln, New Mexico · Flash Flood · Sep 12, 18:00 UTC
Heavy rain associated with residual moisture from post-tropical cyclone Kay occurred during the afternoon on September 12 in southern portions of the Inland Empire. The Department of Highways reported a swift water rescue of a person seeking refuge on top of a vehicle. Local emergency managers also reported the southbound lane of I-15 was flooded at Dos Lagos. The following are measured rain reports in the region: Mesonet Station CW7445 Temescal Valley, 10 SE Corona: 1.78 inch. Mesonet Station ECSC1 El Cariso RAWS, 5 WSW Lake Elsinore: 1.28 inch.
Riverside, California · Flash Flood · Sep 12, 19:30 UTC
Heavy rain associated with residual moisture from post-tropical cyclone Kay occurred during the afternoon on September 12 in the San Bernardino County Mountains. Rain amounts of 1.5 to 3 inches occurred in the region. The Department of Highways reported a flash flood near Crestline, with multiple vehicles stuck in flood water on Lake Drive at Forest Shade Drive. The following are measured rain amounts from various Mesonet sites: Mesonet Station FW1313, 1 WNW Running Springs: 3.58 inch. Strawberry Peak, 3 WSW Lake Arrowhead: 2.88 inch. Heaps Peak RAWS, 3 NW Running Springs: 2.68 inch. Mesonet Station CRQC1, 1 SSW Lake Arrowhead: 1.74 inch. Mesonet Station PPOC1 Panorama Point, 2 SSW Crestline: 1.66 inch. Mesonet Station FW0025 Lake Arrowhead South, 1 SE Lake Arrowhead: 1.52 inch.
San Bernardino, California · Flash Flood · Sep 12, 20:00 UTC
Significant road flooding occurred in Moapa, Moapa Valley, Overton, and Valley of Fire State Park. The Overton co-op observer measured 1.89 inches of rain, including 0.80 inch in 20 minutes. Multiple vehicles were stuck in Valley of Fire.
Clark, Nevada · Flash Flood · Sep 14, 02:00 UTC
Track
| Time (UTC) | Position | Wind | Pressure | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 12:00 | 14.1N 100.9W | 30 kt | 1005 mb | Tropical depression |
| Sep 4, 18:00 | 14.7N 102.0W | 35 kt | 1004 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 5, 00:00 | 15.3N 103.3W | 35 kt | 1002 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 5, 06:00 | 15.5N 104.8W | 45 kt | 998 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 5, 12:00 | 15.5N 106.0W | 55 kt | 990 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 5, 18:00 | 15.5N 106.9W | 65 kt | 983 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 6, 00:00 | 15.9N 107.7W | 70 kt | 980 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 6, 06:00 | 16.7N 108.6W | 70 kt | 980 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 6, 12:00 | 17.6N 109.6W | 75 kt | 977 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 6, 18:00 | 18.4N 110.6W | 75 kt | 976 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 7, 00:00 | 19.0N 111.4W | 80 kt | 971 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 7, 06:00 | 19.8N 111.8W | 80 kt | 971 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 7, 12:00 | 20.6N 112.3W | 85 kt | 968 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 7, 18:00 | 21.5N 112.8W | 80 kt | 971 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 8, 00:00 | 22.6N 112.9W | 75 kt | 972 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 8, 06:00 | 23.9N 113.2W | 70 kt | 975 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 8, 12:00 | 25.2N 113.5W | 65 kt | 979 mb | Hurricane |
| Sep 8, 18:00 | 26.6N 114.1W | 60 kt | 982 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 8, 20:35 landfall | 27.2N 114.3W | 60 kt | 982 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 9, 00:00 | 27.9N 114.6W | 55 kt | 985 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 9, 06:00 | 29.0N 115.5W | 50 kt | 987 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 9, 12:00 | 30.0N 116.4W | 40 kt | 991 mb | Tropical storm |
| Sep 9, 18:00 | 30.8N 117.4W | 35 kt | 995 mb | Low |
| Sep 10, 00:00 | 31.2N 118.5W | 35 kt | 996 mb | Low |
| Sep 10, 06:00 | 31.1N 119.5W | 30 kt | 998 mb | Low |
| Sep 10, 12:00 | 30.9N 120.2W | 30 kt | 998 mb | Low |
| Sep 10, 18:00 | 30.8N 120.7W | 25 kt | 1003 mb | Low |
| Sep 11, 00:00 | 30.7N 120.9W | 25 kt | 1003 mb | Low |
| Sep 11, 06:00 | 30.6N 121.0W | 25 kt | 1004 mb | Low |
| Sep 11, 12:00 | 30.3N 121.3W | 20 kt | 1006 mb | Low |
| Sep 11, 18:00 | 30.0N 121.6W | 20 kt | 1007 mb | Low |
| Sep 12, 00:00 | 29.6N 121.8W | 20 kt | 1007 mb | Low |
| Sep 12, 06:00 | 29.1N 121.9W | 20 kt | 1007 mb | Low |
| Sep 12, 12:00 | 28.5N 121.8W | 15 kt | 1008 mb | Low |
| Sep 12, 18:00 | 28.0N 121.5W | 15 kt | 1010 mb | Low |
| Sep 13, 00:00 | 27.4N 120.9W | 15 kt | 1011 mb | Low |
Other Eastern Pacific storms of 2022
- Hurricane AgathaEastern Pacific · 2022 · 9 deaths
- Hurricane BlasEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm CeliaEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane DarbyEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane EstelleEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane FrankEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm GeorgetteEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane HowardEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm IvetteEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm JavierEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm MadelineEastern Pacific · 2022 · 2 deaths
- Tropical Storm LesterEastern Pacific · 2022 · 1 death
- Tropical Storm NewtonEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane OrleneEastern Pacific · 2022
- Tropical Storm PaineEastern Pacific · 2022
- Hurricane RoslynEastern Pacific · 2022 · 3 deaths
What this means
A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.
Sources
Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.