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HurriTracker

2003 Atlantic hurricane season

Jun 1, 2003 – Nov 30, 2003 · Season ended

The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season produced 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 176, 144% of the average.

2002 season2004 seasonAll Atlantic seasons
Named storms
16
Avg 14.4 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
7
64 kt or stronger · avg 7.2
Major (Cat 3+)
3
Including 1 Category 5
Accumulated energy
144% of normal
ACE 176 vs 1991–2020 avg 123
Loading map…
Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5

2003 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 16 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 7.2).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 3, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 176.3, 144% of the 123 average.
  • Named-storm days: 81.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Ana, April 20.
  • First hurricane: Claudette, July 10.
  • First major storm: Fabian, August 30.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Peter, December 11.
  • All systems tracked: 21, including 5 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.

Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).

Every storm of the 2003 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Ana – TS994 mb—
TD 2L – TD1008 mb—
Bill – TS997 mbHouma, United States
Claudette – C1979 mbPlaya del Carmen, Mexico
Danny – C11000 mb—
TD 6L – TD1010 mb—
TD 7L – TD1016 mbCountry Club Estates, United States
Erika – C1986 mbValle Hermoso, Mexico
TD 9L – TD1007 mb—
Fabian – C4939 mb—
Grace – TS1007 mbFreeport, United States
Henri – TS997 mbLargo, United States
Isabel – C5915 mbMorehead City, United States
TD 14L – TD1007 mb—
Juan – C2969 mbHalifax, Canada
Kate – C3952 mb—
Larry – TS993 mbTecolutilla, Mexico
Mindy – TS1002 mb—
Nicholas – TS990 mb—
Odette – TS993 mbEnriquillo, Dominican Republic
Peter – TS990 mb—
  • Ana: Ana formed in the Atlantic in April 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • TD 2L: This system formed in the Atlantic in June 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
  • Bill: Bill formed in the Atlantic in June 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Houma, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Claudette: Claudette formed in the Atlantic in July 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Playa del Carmen, Mexico and last near Port Lavaca, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Danny: Danny formed in the Atlantic in July 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • TD 6L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1010 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 7L: This system formed in the Atlantic in July 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1016 mb. It made landfall near Country Club Estates, United States. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Erika: Erika formed in the Atlantic in August 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Valle Hermoso, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • TD 9L: This system formed in the Atlantic in August 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
  • Fabian: Fabian formed in the Atlantic in August 2003 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 939 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Grace: Grace formed in the Atlantic in August 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It made landfall near Freeport, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Henri: Henri formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Largo, United States. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Isabel: Isabel formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 915 mb. It made landfall near Morehead City, United States. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • TD 14L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Juan: Juan formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It made landfall near Halifax, Canada. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Kate: Kate formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Larry: Larry formed in the Atlantic in September 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Tecolutilla, Mexico. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Mindy: Mindy formed in the Atlantic in October 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Nicholas: Nicholas formed in the Atlantic in October 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 20 days.
  • Odette: Odette formed in the Atlantic in December 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It made landfall near Enriquillo, Dominican Republic. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Peter: Peter formed in the Atlantic in December 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2003

Hurricane Isabel was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 915 mb, on September 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2003

10 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • June 30: Bill near Houma, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • July 11: Claudette near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • July 15: Claudette near Port Lavaca, United States, 90 mph (Category 1)
  • July 26: TD 7L near Country Club Estates, United States, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • August 16: Erika near Valle Hermoso, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • August 31: Grace near Freeport, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 6: Henri near Largo, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • September 18: Isabel near Morehead City, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
  • September 29: Juan near Halifax, Canada, 100 mph (Category 2)
  • October 5: Larry near Tecolutilla, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • December 6: Odette near Enriquillo, Dominican Republic, 60 mph (tropical storm)

How 2003 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 12th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 19th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 8th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.

2003 storm names

The 2003 season used 16 names: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fabian, Grace, Henri, Isabel, Juan, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter.

5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.

Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.

The WMO later retired the names Fabian, Isabel and Juan, so they will not be used again.

2003 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2003?

The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season had 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 21 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Ana and the last was Peter.

What was the strongest storm of 2003?

Hurricane Isabel. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 915 mb on September 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2003 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 2003, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Peter, dissipated on December 11. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.