2003 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2003 – Nov 30, 2003 · Season ended
The 2003 East Pacific hurricane season produced 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 57, 44% of the average.
2003 season at a glance
- Named storms: 16 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 56.5, 44% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 49.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, May 20.
- First hurricane: Ignacio, August 24.
- Last storm to dissipate: Patricia, October 26.
- All systems tracked: 16, every one of which reached 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
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Blanca | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Carlos | – | TS | 996 mb | Santiago Jamiltepec, Mexico |
| Dolores | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Enrique | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Felicia | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Guillermo | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Hilda | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Ignacio | – | C2 | 970 mb | La Paz, Mexico |
| Jimena | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Linda | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Marty | – | C2 | 970 mb | San José del Cabo, Mexico |
| Nora | – | C2 | 969 mb | La Cruz, Mexico |
| Olaf | – | C1 | 987 mb | Cihuatlán, Mexico |
| Patricia | – | C1 | 984 mb | — |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in May 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It made landfall near Santiago Jamiltepec, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in July 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in July 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Felicia: Felicia formed in the East Pacific in July 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in August 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in August 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in August 2003 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near La Paz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in August 2003 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in September 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in September 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in September 2003 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It made landfall near San José del Cabo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in October 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 La Cruz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in October 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near Cihuatlán, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Patricia: Patricia formed in the East Pacific in October 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2003
Hurricane Nora was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 105 mph (165 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 969 mb, on October 4. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
224 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 33 matched it. It produced 16% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2003
5 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 27: Carlos near Santiago Jamiltepec, Mexico, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- August 25: Ignacio near La Paz, Mexico, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 22: Marty near San José del Cabo, Mexico, 100 mph (Category 2)
- October 7: Olaf near Cihuatlán, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- October 9: Nora near La Cruz, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2003 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 28th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 31st for hurricanes (tied with 6 other seasons) and 44th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2003 storm names
The 2003 season used 16 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Patricia.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2003 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2003?
The 2003 East Pacific hurricane season had 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, from 16 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Andres and the last was Patricia.
What was the strongest storm of 2003?
Hurricane Nora. It peaked at 105 mph (165 km/h, 90 kt) with a lowest pressure of 969 mb on October 4. That is Category 2 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 224 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 16% 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, Patricia, dissipated on October 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.