2003 Pacific hurricane season

2003 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	May 19, 2003
Last system dissipated	October 26, 2003
Strongest storm
Name	Nora
• Maximum winds	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
• Lowest pressure	969 mbar (hPa; 28.61 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	17 official, 1 unofficial
Total storms	16
Hurricanes	7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	0 (record low, tied with 1977)
Total fatalities	26 total
Total damage	$129 million (2003 USD)
Related articles
2003 Atlantic hurricane season 2003 Pacific typhoon season 2003 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
Pacific hurricane seasons 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

The 2003 Pacific hurricane season was the first season to feature no major hurricanes (storms of Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale) since 1977. The season officially began on May 15, 2003 in the Eastern North Pacific (east of 140°W), and on June 1 in the Central (between 140°W and the International Date Line); both ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in these regions of the Pacific.^[1] The season featured 16 tropical storms, 7 of which intensified into hurricanes, which was then considered an average season. Damage across the basin reached US$129 million, and 23 people were killed by the storms.^{[nb 1]}

Despite the overall lack of activity, the season produced an unusually large number of tropical cyclones that affected Mexico, with eight tropical cyclones making landfall on either side of Mexico, which was the second highest on record. Tropical Storm Carlos struck Oaxaca in late June, resulting in nine fatalities. In late August, Hurricane Ignacio struck the Baja California Peninsula, killing four people and inflicting US$21 million in damage. In September, Hurricane Marty affected the same areas as Ignacio, and was responsible for 12 casualties and US$100 million in damage, making Marty the costliest and deadliest storm of the season. In October, Hurricanes Olaf and Nora struck western Mexico as tropical depressions, causing slight damage and one casualty.

Activity in the Central Pacific was below average, with only one tropical depression forming in the basin and one hurricane entering the basin from the East Pacific. In mid-August, Hurricane Jimena passed just to the south of Hawaii; it was the first storm to directly threaten Hawaii in several years. Also, the remnants of Tropical Storm Guillermo moved into the basin on August 12, prior dissipating the following day.

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