2003 Atlantic hurricane season facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
2003 Atlantic hurricane season

Season summary map
First storm formed	April 20, 2003
Last storm dissipated	December 11, 2003
Strongest storm	Isabel – 915 mbar (hPa) (27.03 inHg), 165 mph (270 km/h)
Total depressions	21
Total storms	16
Hurricanes	7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	3
Total fatalities	92 total
Total damage	$4.4 billion (2003 USD)
Atlantic hurricane seasons 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was a period when many tropical storms and hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It officially started on June 1, 2003, and ended on November 30, 2003. However, some storms formed outside these dates! For example, Tropical Storm Ana appeared in April, and Tropical Storms Odette and Peter formed in December.

This season had 21 tropical depressions, 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). Sadly, these storms caused about $4.4 billion in damage and resulted in 92 deaths.

The most powerful storm was Hurricane Isabel, a Category 5 hurricane. It caused a lot of damage and deaths in the U.S.. Another important storm was Hurricane Fabian, which was one of the worst hurricanes to hit Bermuda. Finally, Hurricane Juan was a rare hurricane that caused damage in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Storms of the Season

Tropical Storm Ana

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	April 20 – April 24
Intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  994 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Ana was one of the earliest storms to form in April in the Atlantic. It started as a subtropical storm on April 20 and then became a tropical storm. Ana lasted until April 24. Its leftover energy even reached the United Kingdom. Ana caused two deaths but no damage.

Tropical Storm Bill

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	June 29 – July 2
Intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Bill began as a tropical depression on June 29. It quickly grew into Tropical Storm Bill and hit Louisiana on June 30. Bill caused about $50.5 million in damage and resulted in 4 deaths before it disappeared on July 2.

Hurricane Claudette

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	July 8 – July 17
Intensity	90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min),  979 mbar (hPa)

Claudette started as a tropical storm on July 8 in the Caribbean Sea. It moved west, then curved northwest towards Honduras. For a short time, Claudette became a hurricane, then weakened back to a tropical storm. It crossed the Yucatán Peninsula and became a hurricane again before hitting Texas on July 15. Claudette finally disappeared on July 17. This hurricane caused 3 deaths and about $181 million in damage.

Hurricane Danny

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	July 16 – July 21
Intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  1000 mbar (hPa)

Danny started far from where storms usually form, on July 16. But the warm ocean waters helped it become a tropical storm and even a hurricane for a short time. Danny then weakened and became an extratropical storm on July 21. The remains of Danny lasted until July 27. Danny did not come near land, so it caused no deaths or damage.

Hurricane Erika

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 14 – August 17
Intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  986 mbar (hPa)

Erika began as a tropical storm west of Florida. It traveled across most of the Gulf of Mexico. Erika became a hurricane just before hitting Mexico. It disappeared on August 17, causing about $10,000 in damage and resulting in 2 deaths.

Hurricane Fabian

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	August 27 – September 8
Intensity	145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min),  939 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Fabian was a very strong hurricane that formed near the Cape Verde islands. It hit Bermuda in early September. Fabian was the first major hurricane of the season. It caused about $200 million in damage and resulted in 8 deaths.

Tropical Storm Grace

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	August 30 – September 2
Intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  1007 mbar (hPa)

Grace was a weak tropical storm that formed on August 30. It later hit Texas as a weak tropical storm. Grace disappeared on September 2. It caused no deaths and only about $113,000 in damage.

Tropical Storm Henri

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	September 3 – September 8
Intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  997 mbar (hPa)

Henri was a strong tropical storm that formed near Florida. Before hitting Florida on September 6, it weakened back to a tropical depression. It crossed Florida but never became a tropical storm again. Henri disappeared on September 8. It caused about $19.6 million in damage but no deaths. The leftover parts of Henri caused flooding in some of the Mid-Atlantic states.

Hurricane Isabel

Category 5 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 6 – September 19
Intensity	165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min),  915 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Isabel was the most expensive, deadliest, and strongest hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the second major hurricane of the season. Overall, the storm caused about $3.6 billion in damage. It resulted in 16 direct deaths and 35 indirect deaths.

Hurricane Juan

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 24 – September 29
Intensity	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  969 mbar (hPa)

Hurricane Juan started on September 24 as a tropical depression. The next day, it became a tropical storm. It later became a hurricane and hit near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on September 29. Juan disappeared on the same day while in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Hurricane Juan was one of the most expensive hurricanes to hit Nova Scotia. It resulted in 8 deaths and about $200 million in damage.

Hurricane Kate

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration	September 25 – October 7
Intensity	125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  952 mbar (hPa)

Kate formed on September 25 between Africa and South America. The storm became a hurricane, and then a major hurricane. At one point, it looked like Hurricane Kate might hit Newfoundland, but it didn't. Kate became an extratropical storm because the Atlantic waters were getting colder. Kate disappeared on October 7, but its remains were last seen near Norway.

Tropical Storm Larry

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 1 – October 6
Intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  993 mbar (hPa)

Larry formed on October 1 in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The storm moved slowly south into the Bay of Campeche. Larry hit Tabasco, a state in Mexico, on October 5. Tropical Storm Larry disappeared the next day and moved into the Pacific Ocean without reforming. Larry caused about $53.4 million in damage and resulted in 5 deaths.

Tropical Storm Mindy

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 10 – October 14
Intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  1002 mbar (hPa)

Mindy was a weak tropical storm that formed on October 10, just north of the Dominican Republic. The storm moved northwest towards the Bahamas. Mindy then curved north and east, getting close to the Bahamas. Tropical Storm Mindy disappeared on October 14. It caused no deaths and only about $46,000 in damage.

Tropical Storm Nicholas

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	October 13 – October 23
Intensity	70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

Nicholas was a tropical storm that formed about halfway between Africa and South America. It moved around in the Atlantic Ocean and almost became a hurricane. Tropical Storm Nicholas disappeared on October 23 without becoming a hurricane. The remains of Nicholas traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida. They then moved across the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Coast. The last signs of it were seen on November 5.

Tropical Storm Odette

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	December 4 – December 7
Intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  993 mbar (hPa)

Odette was the first tropical storm to form in December since Hurricane Lili in 1984. On December 6, Odette hit the Dominican Republic and then moved into the Atlantic Ocean. It disappeared the next day. Tropical Storm Odette resulted in 10 deaths and caused about $8 million in damage.

Tropical Storm Peter

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration	December 7 – December 11
Intensity	70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  990 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Peter was a rare second storm to form in December that year. Peter almost became a hurricane, but cold waters caused it to disappear on December 11. Peter was one of only four "P" names ever used for Atlantic storms. The others were Pablo in 1995, Philippe in 2005, and Paloma in 2008.

Storm Names

The names used for storms in 2003 were the same as those used in 1997. This is because no names were "retired" (removed from the list) in 1997. Names that are not retired can be used again in future seasons.

Name Retirement

In spring 2004, the names Fabian, Isabel, and Juan were retired. This means they will never be used again for Atlantic hurricanes because of the severe damage and deaths they caused. They were replaced by Fred, Ida, and Joaquin for the 2009 list.

Related Pages

• List of Atlantic hurricane seasons

Images for kids

• 

  Three simultaneous tropical cyclones on September 7: Henri (left), Fabian (center), and Isabel (right).

• 

  Damage from Hurricane Fabian on Bermuda

See also

In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Atlántico de 2003 para niños