2003 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 2003, 90 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 50 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 25 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Cyclone Zoe in the Southern Hemisphere, at 180 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 2002–03 season, which IBTrACS files under 2003.
2003 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 90, from 105 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 50.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 25, 6 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 865, 108% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Cyclone Zoe, Southern Hemisphere, 180 mph (155 kt), 879 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: Atlantic, with 144% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Central Pacific, at 10%.
Each basin in 2003
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 2003 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
2003 season
16 named (average 14.4), 7 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Isabel, 165 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
2003 season
16 named (average 15.6), 7 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Nora, 105 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
2003 season
1 named (average 1.6), 0 hurricanes (average 0.8). Strongest: Tropical Storm Yanyan, 60 mph.
West Pacific typhoon season
2003 season
22 named (average 25.5), 17 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Maemi, 175 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
2003 season
4 named (average 6.3), 1 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone 2A, 90 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
2002–03 season
31 named (average 26.7), 18 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Zoe, 180 mph.
Strongest storms of 2003
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoe | Southern Hemisphere | C5 180 mph | 879 mb | – |
| Maemi | West Pacific | C5 175 mph | 885 mb | – |
| Lupit | West Pacific | C5 165 mph | 892 mb | – |
| Isabel | Atlantic | C5 165 mph | 915 mb | – |
| Kalunde | Southern Hemisphere | C5 160 mph | 898 mb | – |
Peak winds are 1-minute sustained winds from the NHC and JTWC best tracks, so storms in different basins compare on the same scale.