2003 Pacific hurricane season facts for kids
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| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | May 19, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Last storm dissipated | October 26, 2003 |
| Strongest storm | Nora - 969 mbar (hPa), 105 mph (165 km/h) – |
| 16 | |
| Total fatalities | 14 |
| Total damage | $1 billion (2003 USD) |
| seasons 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 |
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The 2003 Pacific hurricane season was a time when many tropical cyclones hit Mexico. Two of the biggest storms that year were Hurricanes Ignacio and Marty. Hurricane Ignacio caused the deaths of 2 people in Mexico. Hurricane Marty was even more damaging, leading to 12 deaths in Mexico.
These powerful hurricanes caused a lot of damage, costing nearly $1 billion in 2003 US dollars. Besides these, three other storms from the Pacific and three from the Atlantic also affected Mexico. Another important storm was Hurricane Jimena. It passed very close to Hawaii, which was unusual. Jimena was the first storm to get so close to Hawaii in several years.
The hurricane season officially began on May 15, 2003, in the eastern Pacific. In the central Pacific, it started on June 1, 2003. The season ended on November 30, 2003. These dates are when most tropical cyclones usually form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. About 16 tropical storms formed this season, which is a normal number. However, this season was special because no storms became "major hurricanes." A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. This had not happened in the Pacific since 1977.
Contents
Understanding Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Hurricanes and tropical storms are types of tropical cyclones. These are rotating storm systems that form over warm ocean waters. They bring strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes big waves. The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale helps us measure how strong a hurricane is. It goes from Category 1 (least strong) to Category 5 (most strong).
How Hurricanes Form
Hurricanes need warm ocean water, moist air, and light winds to form. They get their energy from the warm water. As they move, they can grow bigger and stronger. When they reach land, they can cause a lot of damage.
Notable Storms of 2003
Several storms made a big impact during the 2003 Pacific hurricane season.
Hurricane Marty's Impact
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
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| Duration | September 18 – September 24 | ||
| Intensity | 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min), 970 mbar (hPa) | ||
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Hurricane Marty was a very destructive storm. It caused the deaths of 12 people. Marty also destroyed about 4,000 homes in Baja California, Mexico.
Hurricane Nora's Strength
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | October 1 – October 9 | ||
| Intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min), 969 mbar (hPa) | ||
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Hurricane Nora was the most powerful hurricane in the eastern Pacific Ocean during 2003. Even though it was strong, it did not cause as much damage as Marty.
Other Important Storms
Many other storms formed during the 2003 season. Here are some of them:
- Tropical Storm Andres
- Tropical Storm Blanca
- Tropical Storm Carlos
- Tropical Storm Dolores
- Tropical Storm Enrique
- Tropical Storm Felicia
- Tropical Storm Guillermo
- Tropical Storm Hilda
- Tropical Depression One-C
- Hurricane Ignacio
- Hurricane Jimena
- Tropical Storm Kevin
- Hurricane Linda
- Hurricane Olaf
- Hurricane Patricia
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Images for kids
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On October 6, 2003, two hurricanes, Nora (left) and Olaf (right), were active in the eastern Pacific at the same time.
See also
In Spanish: Temporada de huracanes en el Pacífico de 2003 para niños
