2003 Atlantic hurricane season
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The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started June 1, 2003, and lasted until November 30, 2003, although really lasted from April 20 to December 11 due to unusual events.
Two unusual events happened in the 2003 season. The first was the formation of Tropical Storm Ana, the first Atlantic tropical storm of record to form in April. The other was the December formation of Tropical Storms Odette and Peter, making 2003 the first time two Atlantic tropical storms formed in December since 1887.
Other notable storms include Hurricane Isabel, which reached Category 5 strength, Hurricane Juan which caused considerable destruction to Atlantic Canada, particularly Halifax, and Hurricane Fabian, which caused $300 million in damage to Bermuda. Template:Infobox Hurricane Season
Storms
Tropical Storm Ana
Ana formed as a subtropical storm on April 20 as a non-tropical low began taking on tropical characteristics. By April 21, Subtropical Storm Ana had developed a warm core and was designated a tropical storm. By April 24 it had become extratropical, and was absorbed by a frontal system near Portugal two days later. It was the only Atlantic storm ever to have formed in April in recorded history.
Tropical Storm Bill
On June 29, a low pressure area drifting north over the southern Gulf of Mexico organized and was named Tropical Storm Bill. Bill crossed the gulf, and made landfall west of Cocodrie, Louisiana. Although a relatively weak storm, Bill is blamed for four deaths and $50 million in estimated damages.
Hurricane Claudette
The system that became Claudette was recognized as a tropical depression near the Windward Islands on July 7. By July 11, Claudette had reached the Yucatan Peninsula. A few hours after landfall at Puerto Morelos, Claudette emerged over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Claudette would restrengthen, and made landfall a second time on July 15 at Matagorda Island near Port O'Connor, Texas as a strong Category 1 storm. After its final landfall, Claudette remained at tropical storm strength for more than a day, an unusual occurrence. Most tropical systems weaken rapidly after landfall, as they are separated from the warm waters that power them.
Claudette was responsible for one direct death, from a falling tree. Estimated US damage was $180 million. No significant damage was reported from Mexico.
Hurricane Danny
Hurricane Danny was named on July 17 in the open ocean east of Bermuda. Danny began the northeastward leg of an anti-cyclonic loop around an area of high pressure in the central Atlantic, and by July 21 had lost its identity as a tropical cyclone. Danny caused no reported damage and never threatened land.
Hurricane Erika
Hurricane Erika formed out of a non-tropical low first spotted 1000 nm east of Bermuda on August 9. As it approached Florida on August 14, the low began taking on tropical characteristics, and almost developed a closed circulation. When the low emerged into the Gulf of Mexico, the presence of a fully closed circulation and active convection resulted in a classification as Tropical Storm Erika.
A high pressure system over the southern United States caused Erika to move quickly westerward. On August 16, Erika's motion slowed and the storm intensified. Landfall was at Boca San Rafael, about 40 miles south of Matamoros, Mexico.
Erika was not classified as a hurricane while active. A post-storm analysis of radar data revealed sustained hurricane force winds just before landfall, and the storm was upgraded after the fact.
Erika was responsible for two deaths due to flooding in Mexico. Large amounts of flood-related damage were reported in north-eastern Mexico. South Texas reported only minor damage from the outskirts of the storm.
Hurricane Fabian
Main article: Hurricane Fabian
Fabian was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed in late August. On September 5, Fabian hit Bermuda at Category 3 strength. Although it was not technically a landfall, Fabian's eyewall passed directly over the island, causing severe damage. Fabian was responsible for eight deaths, and caused an estimated 300 million USD in damage to Bermuda.
Tropical Storm Grace
Tropical Storm Grace formed from a disturbance in the central Gulf of Mexico on August 30. Grace was an ill-defined storm which formed a second circulation center. The second, stronger center moved onshore near San Luis Pass at the western end of Galveston Island on August 31. The storm quickly weakened and merged with a frontal system in eastern Oklahoma. While Grace was responsible for heavy rainfall along the Texas coast, no deaths and no significant damage were reported.
Tropical Storm Henri
Henri formed from a tropical wave in the Gulf of Mexico on September 5. Wind speeds quickly increased to 50 kt, but fell off to 30 kt before landfall near Clearwater, Florida. Henri was responsible for large amounts of rainfall across Florida, but was not directly responsible for any deaths, and damage was minor.
Hurricane Isabel
Main article: Hurricane Isabel
A tropical wave off the coast of Africa was named Tropical Storm Isabel on September 6. The storm moved westward and intensified to hurricane strength. By September 11, Isabel had reached Category 5 strength, with winds of 165 mi/h. Isabel would remain at or near Category 5 for 5 days while moving west-northwest across the Atlantic. On September 15, as Isabel approached the Bahamas, vertical wind shear increased, and Isabel began to weaken. Now on a more northern track, Isabel made landfall near Drum Inlet, North Carolina on September 18 at Category 2 strength. Isabel remained a hurricane until it reached southern Virginia, and was eventually absorbed by a larger system over far northern Ontario, Canada.
Isabel was directly responsible for 16 deaths, 10 in Virginia. Indirect deaths were more numerous, with 35 people losing their lives across nine states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Widespread damage was reported, most in Virginia and not in North Carolina as one would expect. Total damages were estimated at $3.37 billion, with two-thirds of that total applying to Virginia.
Hurricane Juan
Main article: Hurricane Juan
The depression that became Juan reached tropical storm strength and was named on September 25, while 300 nm southeast of Bermuda. Juan moved north and strengthened, and made landfall near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Juan was directly responsible for eight deaths, and is considered the worst hurricane to hit Halifax in 110 years.
Hurricane Kate
Kate formed from a depression in the in the open Atlantic on September 27. Kate followed an unusual path, often changing directions radically. Kate eventually strengthened to a strong Category 3 hurricane, and slipped southeast of Newfoundland while a Category 1 hurricane. It eventually headed northward and became extratropical. No significant damage or fatalities were reported in relation to Kate.
Tropical Storm Larry
Larry formed out of a disorganized extratropical low over the Gulf of Mexico on October 1. Larry then meandered slowly southward and made landfall in Tabasco near Paraiso. The low crossed over into the Pacific where it dissipated. Five deaths were officially reported, due to inland flooding.
Tropical Storm Mindy
A strong tropical wave with a weak circulation that had just passed over the Dominican Republic was named Tropical Storm Mindy on October 10. Two days later Mindy weakened to a depression, and by October 14 the storm had dissipated completely. Mindy caused significant rainfall over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, but no reported damages or fatalities.
Tropical Storm Nicholas
Tropical Storm Nicholas formed on October 14 in the southern Atlantic. Due to continual wind shear, Nicholas would never undergo significant strengthening. Nicholas slowly travelled northwest, and became extratropical on October 23.
The extratropical low that was Nicholas performed two anticyclonic loops while continuing to move westward, and was finally absorbed into a non-tropical low on November 1. There are no fatalities or damages associated with Tropical Storm Nicholas.
Tropical Storm Odette
Main article: Tropical Storm Odette
Odette was a rare December tropical storm that formed on December 4, days after the official end of hurricane season. Odette strengthened and made landfall near Cabo Falso in the Dominican Republic on December 6 as a moderately strong tropical storm. A day later, Odette became extratropical, and eventually merged with a cold front.
Eight deaths are officially attributed to Odette. Although no official damage estimate is available, Odette caused large amounts of damage, including destroying 35% of the Dominican banana crop. Little impact was reported in neighboring Haiti.
Tropical Storm Peter
Peter was a short-lived storm, primarily notable for being the second December storm of the season, the first time this has occurred since 1887.
Peter formed as a subtropical storm on December 7 from an extratropical gale. By December 9, Peter had become a strong tropical storm, nearly reaching hurricane strength. The organization would not last, and Peter became an extratropical low on December 11 and was absorbed by a cold front. No deaths or damages are associated with Peter. The formation of Peter made 2003 the busiest season in nearly a decade.
2003 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the north Atlantic in 2003. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2009 season. This is the same list used for the 1997 season. Storms were named Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, and Peter for the first time in 2003. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired three names in the spring of 2004: Fabian, Isabel, and Juan. They will be replaced in 2009 by Fred, Ida, and Joaquin.
See also
External link
- National Hurricane Center 2003 Atlantic hurricane season summary (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2003atlan_summary.shtml)