Timeline of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was an active Atlantic hurricane season with tropical activity before and after the official bounds of the season – the first such occurrence in 50 years. The season officially began on June 1, 2003 and ended on November 30. However, a pre-season storm, Tropical Storm Ana, led to the season starting on April 20, and storm activity continued through December 11. The timeline includes information which was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as information on a storm that was not operationally warned upon, has been included. This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipations during the season.

Main article: 2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Track map of all storms during the season

This season had 21 tropical depressions, of which, 16 became named storms. Of these, 7 strengthened into hurricanes with 3 intensifying into major hurricanes.[nb 1] Hurricane Fabian, Hurricane Isabel, and Hurricane Juan had their names retired due to the impact caused in Bermuda, the eastern United States, and Nova Scotia respectively. Both Fabian and Juan were the worst hurricanes to hit their respective areas, causing $450 million in damages and 16 fatalities.[2][3] Hurricane Isabel was the strongest, deadliest, and costliest storm of the season. Isabel peaked as a Category 5 hurricane over the open waters of the Atlantic; however, it weakened to a Category 2 before impacting the east coast of the United States, causing $3.6 billion in damages and 51 fatalities.[4]

Timeline of storms
Tropical Storm Peter (2003)Tropical Storm Odette (2003)Tropical Storm Nicholas (2003)Tropical Storm Mindy (2003)Tropical Storm Larry (2003)Hurricane Kate (2003)Hurricane JuanHurricane IsabelTropical Storm Henri (2003)Tropical Storm Grace (2003)Hurricane FabianTropical Depression Nine (2003)Hurricane Erika (2003)Tropical Depression Seven (2003)Hurricane Danny (2003)Hurricane Claudette (2003)Tropical Storm Bill (2003)Tropical Storm Ana (2003)Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

April
April 20
Tropical Storm Ana on April 22
2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC) – Subtropical Storm Ana develops out of an extratropical low 250 miles (400 km)[nb 2] west of Bermuda.[5]
8 p.m. EDT (0000 UTC April 21) – Subtropical Storm Ana gains tropical characteristics and becomes Tropical Storm Ana.[5]
April 24
2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Ana loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical.[5]

June
June 1
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins.[6]
June 10
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 June 11) – Tropical Depression Two forms 1,145 mi (1,840 km) southwest of Brava, Cape Verde.[7]
June 11
Tropical Storm Bill on July 1
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 June 12) – Tropical Depression Two dissipates over open waters.[7]
June 29
June 30
  • 2 p.m. CDT (1900 UTC) – Tropical Storm Bill makes landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[8]

July
July 1
  • 1 a.m. CDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Bill is downgraded to a tropical depression.[8]
July2
  • 7 p.m. CDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Bill loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical.[8]
July 8
July 10
  • 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Claudette intensifies into a hurricane in the western Caribbean Sea.[9]
  • 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Claudette weakens back to a tropical storm.[9]
July 11
Hurricane Claudette at peak intensity
  • 5 a.m. CDT (1000 UTC) – Tropical Storm Claudette makes landfall near Puerto Morelos, Mexico with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[9]
July 15
  • 1 a.m. CDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Claudette re-intensifies into a hurricane in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.[9]
  • 10:30 a.m. CDT (1530 UTC) – Hurricane Claudette makes landfall near Matagorda Island, Texas with winds of 90 mph (145 km/h).[9]
  • 7 p.m. CDT (0000 UTC July 16 UTC) – Hurricane Claudette weakens to a tropical storm.[9]
July 16
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Four forms 635 mi (1,020 km) east of Bermuda.[10]
  • 7 p.m. CDT (0000 UTC July 17 UTC) – Tropical Storm Claudette weakens to a tropical depression.[9]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC July 17 UTC) – Tropical Depression Four strengthens into Tropical Storm Danny.[10]
July 17
July 18
Hurricane Danny at peak intensity
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Danny strengthens into a hurricane.[10]
July 19
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Danny weakens to a tropical storm.[10]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Six forms 1035 mi (1675 km) east of the Lesser Antilles.[11]
July 20
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Danny weakens to a tropical depression.[10]
July 21
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Danny degenerates into a remnant low-pressure area.[10]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Six dissipates over open waters.[11]
July 25
July 26
July 27
  • 2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Seven dissipates inland.[12]

August
August 14
August 16
  • 5:30 a.m. CDT (1030 UTC) – Tropical Storm Erika strengthens into a hurricane and makes landfall near Boca San Rafael, Mexico in northeastern Tamaulipas with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h)
  • 1 p.m. CDT (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Erika weakens to a tropical storm.[13]
  • 7 p.m. CDT (0000 UTC August 17) – Tropical Storm Erika weakens to a tropical depression.[13]
August 17
Hurricane Erika making landfall on the northern Mexican coastline
  • 1 a.m. CDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Erika dissipates over the mountains of northern Mexico.[13]
August 21
August 22
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Nine dissipates over open waters.[14]
August 27
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Ten forms 420 mi (675 km) west of the Cape Verde Islands.[2]
August 28
August 29
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC August 30) – Tropical Storm Fabian intensifies into a hurricane.[2]
August 30
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) –Hurricane Fabian strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.[2]
  • 7 a.m. PDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eleven forms 335 mi (540 km) east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.[15]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian strengthens into a major hurricane—a storm with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or higher.[2]
  • 1 p.m. PDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eleven strengthens into Tropical Storm Grace.[15]
August 31
Storm track of Tropical Storm Grace
  • 6 a.m. PDT (1100 UTC) – Tropical Storm Grace makes landfall near Galveston Island, Texas with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).[15]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.[2]
  • 1 p.m. PDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Grace weakens to a tropical depression.[15]

September
September 1
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian reaches its peak intensity with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) while located 310 mi (500 km) northeast of Barbuda.[2]
September 2
  • 7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Grace dissipates as it gets absorbed by a frontal system.[15]
September 3
Hurricane Fabian at peak intensity
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian weakens to a Category 3 hurricane.[2]
  • 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Twelve forms 300 mi (480 km) west of Tampa, Florida.[16]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 4) – Hurricane Fabian re-intensifies into a Category 4 hurricane.[2]
September 4
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian weakens to a Category 3 hurricane again.[2]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 5) – Hurricane Fabian re-intensifies into a Category 4 hurricane.[2]
September 5
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian weakens to a Category 3 hurricane once more.[2]
  • 2 a.m. EDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Twelve strengthens into Tropical Storm Henri.[16]
  • 4 p.m. AST (2000 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian makes its closest approach to land, passing 14 mi (23 km) to the west of Bermuda with winds of 120 mph (180 km/h).[2]
  • 8 p.m. EDT (0000 UTC September 6) – Tropical Storm Henri weakens to a tropical depression.[16]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 6) – Tropical Depression Thirteen forms 470 mi (755 km) west-southwest of Brava, Cape Verde.[4]
September 6
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Thirteen strengthens into Tropical Storm Isabel.[4]
  • 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) – Tropical Depression Henri makes landfall near Clearwater, Florida with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[16]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 7) – Hurricane Fabian weakens into a Category 2 hurricane.[2]
September 7
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian weakens to a Category 1 hurricane.[2]
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Isabel strengthens into a hurricane.[4]
September 8
Tropical Storm Henri at peak intensity
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.[4]
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fourteen forms 290 mi (465 km) southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde islands.[17]
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel strengthens into a major hurricane.[4]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Fabian loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical, while retaining hurricane-force winds, over the open waters of the north Atlantic Ocean.[2]
  • 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Henri loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical shortly before dissipating.[16]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 9) – Hurricane Isabel strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.[4]
September 9
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 10) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 3 hurricane.[4]
September 10
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel re-intensifies into a Category 4 hurricane.[4]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fourteen dissipates.[17]
September 11
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel strengthens into a Category 5 hurricane, becoming the strongest storm of the season; winds peak at 165 mph (270 km/h) and the minimum pressure is 915 mbar (hPa; (27.03 inHg). At this time, Isabel is located 560 mi (900 km) northeast of Guadeloupe.[4]
September 12
Hurricane Isabel making landfall on the North Carolina Coastline
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 13) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 4 hurricane.[4]
September 13
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel re-intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane.[4]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 14) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 4 hurricane again.[4]
September 14
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel re-intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane for the third and final time.[4]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 15) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 4 hurricane once more.[4]
September 15
  • 8 p.m. EST (0000 UTC September 16) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 3 hurricane.[4]
September 16
  • 8 a.m. (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 2 hurricane.[4]
September 18
  • 1 p.m. EST (1700 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel makes landfall near Drum Inlet, North Carolina with winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).[4]
  • 8 p.m. EST (0000 UTC September 19) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a Category 1 hurricane.[4]
September 19
  • 2 a.m. EST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Isabel weakens to a tropical storm.[4]
  • 8 a.m. EST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Isabel loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical.[4]
September 24
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fifteen forms 345 mi (555 km) southeast of Bermuda.[3]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC September 25) – Tropical Depression Fifteen strengthens into Tropical Storm Juan.[3]
September 25
  • 2 p.m AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Sixteen forms 920 mi (1,480 km) west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.[18]
September 26
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Juan strengthens into a hurricane.[3]
September 27
Hurricane Juan on September 27
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Juan strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.[3]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Sixteen strengthens into Tropical Storm Kate.[18]
September 28
  • 11 p.m. AST (0300 UTC September 29) – Hurricane Juan makes landfall near Halifax, Nova Scotia with winds of 100 mph (160 km/h).[3]
September 29
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Juan weakens to a Category 1 hurricane as it passes over Prince Edward Island with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).[3]
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Hurricane Juan weakens to a tropical storm.[3]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Juan is absorbed by a large extratropical low.[3]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Kate strengthens into a hurricane.[18]
September 30
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Kate weakens to a tropical storm.[18]

October
October 1
Storm track of Hurricane Kate
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Kate re-intensifies into a hurricane.[18]
  • 1 p.m. CDT (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Larry develops out of an extratropical gale while located 300 mi (483 km) east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico.[19]
October 3
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Kate strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.[18]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Kate strengthens into a major hurricane.[18]
October 4
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Hurricane Kate reaches its peak intensity with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) with a minimum pressure of 952 mbar (hPa; 28.12 inHg) while located 645 mi (1,040 km) southeast of Bermuda.[18]
October 5
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Kate weakens to a Category 2 hurricane.[18]
  • 5 a.m. CDT (1000 UTC) – Tropical Storm Larry makes landfall near Paraíso in the Mexican state of Tabasco with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[19]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC October 6) – Hurricane Kate weakens to a Category 1 hurricane.[18]
October 6
Tropical Storm Larry near landfall
  • 1 a.m. CDT (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Larry weakens to a tropical depression.[19]
  • 7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC) – Tropical Depression Larry degenerates into a remnant low-pressure area.[19]
October 7
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Hurricane Kate weakens to a tropical storm.[18]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC October 8) – Tropical Storm Kate loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical over the northern Atlantic Ocean while located several hundred miles northeast of Newfoundland.[18]
October 10
October 12
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Storm Mindy weakens to a tropical depression.[20]
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC October 13) – Tropical Depression Nineteen forms 1,030 mi (1,660 km) west-southwest of the Cape Verde islands.[21]
October 14
Tropical Storm Nicholas at peak intensity
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Mindy dissipates.[20]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Depression Nineteen strengthens into Tropical Storm Nicholas.[21]
October 22
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC October 23) – Tropical Storm Nicholas weakens to a tropical depression.[21]
October 23
  • 8 p.m. AST (0000 UTC October 24) – Tropical Depression Nicholas degenerates into a broad area of low pressure while located 605 mi (975 km) northeast of Barbuda.[21]

November
November 30
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends.[6]

December
December 4
Storm track of Tropical Storm Odette
December 6
December 7
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Tropical Storm Odette loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical.[22]
  • 2 p.m. AST (1800 UTC) – Subtropical Storm Peter forms 835 mi (1,340 km) south-southwest of the Azores.[23]
December 9
Tropical Storm Peter at peak intensity
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Subtropical Storm Peter acquires enough tropical characteristics to be classified a tropical storm.[23]
December 10
  • 8 a.m. AST (1200 UTC) – Tropical Storm Peter weakens to a tropical depression.[23]
December 11
  • 2 a.m. AST (0600 UTC) – Tropical Depression Peter loses tropical characteristics and becomes extratropical shortly before being absorbed by a frontal system.[23]

Notes
  1. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 (wind speeds of 111 miles per hour (179 km/h)) or higher on the 5-level Saffir–Simpson wind speed scale are considered major hurricanes.[1]
  2. The figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (knots, miles, or kilometers), following the convention used in the National Hurricane Center's operational products for each storm. All other units are rounded to the nearest digit.

References
  1. "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  2. Richard J. Pasch; Eric S. Blake & Daniel P. Brown (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Fabian". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  3. Lixion A. Avila (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Juan". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  4. Jack Beven & Hugh Cobb (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isabel". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  5. Jack Beven (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Ana". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  6. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; Hurricane Research Division. "Frequently Asked Questions: When is hurricane season?". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  7. James L. Franklin (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Two". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  8. Lixion A. Avila (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Bill". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  9. Jack Beven (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Claudette". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  10. Stacy R. Stewart (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Danny". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  11. Miles B. Lawrence (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  12. Richard J. Pasch (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  13. James L. Franklin (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Erika". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  14. Lixion A. Avila (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  15. Stacy R. Stewart (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Grace". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  16. Daniel P. Brown & Miles Lawrence (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Henri". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  17. James L. Franklin (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Fourteen". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  18. Richard J. Pasch & Robert Molleda (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Kate". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  19. Stacy R. Stewart (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Larry". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  20. Miles B. Lawrence (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Mindy". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  21. Jack Beven (2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Nicholas". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  22. James L. Franklin (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Odette". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  23. Lixion A. Avila (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Peter". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2008-11-03.

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