2003 North Indian cyclone season
Apr–Jun · Oct–Dec · Season ended
The 2003 North Indian cyclone season produced 4 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 6.3, 2.0 and 1.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 13, 55% of the average.
2003 season at a glance
- Named storms: 4 (1991–2020 average 6.3).
- Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 1 (average 2.0).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 1.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 13.0, 55% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 13.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1B, May 10.
- First storm at hurricane strength: Cyclone 2A, November 13.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Storm 3B, December 16.
- All systems tracked: 6, including 2 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). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 2003 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1B | – | TS | 980 mb | Kyaukpyu, Myanmar |
| Unnamed | – | TS | 988 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 996 mb | — |
| Unnamed | – | TD | 998 mb | — |
| TD 2A | – | C1 | 963 mb | — |
| TD 3B | – | TS | 984 mb | Avanigadda, India |
- TD 1B: This system formed in the North Indian in May 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near Kyaukpyu, Myanmar. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in July 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in August 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the North Indian in October 2003 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 2A: This system formed in the North Indian in November 2003 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- TD 3B: This system formed in the North Indian in December 2003 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It made landfall near Avanigadda, India. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2003
Cyclone 2A was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 90 mph (150 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 963 mb, on November 14. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
46 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 29% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2003
2 of the season’s 6 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2003 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 39th of 47 North Indian seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 23rd for hurricane strength (tied with 15 other seasons) and 33rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 11 named storms, in 1998, and the highest ACE is 85, in 2019.
2003 storm names
No storm in the 2003 season was named.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2003 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2003?
The 2003 North Indian cyclone season had 4 named storms, 1 at hurricane strength and 0 major storms, from 6 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 6.3 named storms, 2.0 at 64 kt or more and 1.0 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm 1B and the last was Tropical Storm 3B.
What was the strongest storm of 2003?
Cyclone 2A. It peaked at 90 mph (150 km/h, 80 kt) with a lowest pressure of 963 mb on November 14. That is Category 1 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 46 North Indian storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 29% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2003 season end?
The North Indian Ocean has no official season, so the 2003 season is the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Tropical Storm 3B, dissipated on December 16. Since 1980, 31 North Indian storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.