Effects of Hurricane Isabel in New York and New England

Hurricane Isabel

Tropical Storm Isabel over Pennsylvania shortly before becoming an extratropical cyclone
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	40 mph (65 km/h)
Lowest pressure	997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	2 direct
Damage	$90.1 million (2003 USD)
Areas affected	New York, New England
Part of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Part of a series on Hurricane Isabel
Effects United States North Carolina Virginia Maryland and Washington, D.C. Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey New York and New England Other wikis Commons: Isabel images

The effects of Hurricane Isabel in New York and New England were relatively minor and primarily limited to wind damage. Hurricane Isabel formed from a tropical wave on September 6, 2003, in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It moved northwestward, and within an environment of light wind shear and warm waters it steadily strengthened to reach peak winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) on September 11. After fluctuating in intensity for four days, Isabel gradually weakened and made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) on September 18. It quickly weakened over land and became extratropical over western Pennsylvania the next day.

Damage in New York totaled $90 million (2003 USD, $105 million 2008 USD),^[1] with Vermont reporting about $100,000 in damage (2003 USD, $117,000 in 2008 USD). Falling trees from moderate winds downed power lines across the region, causing sporadic power outages. Two people died as a result of the hurricane, both due to the rough surf from Isabel.