Weather of 2003

The year began with El Niño conditions, which meant that sea surface temperatures over the equator over the eastern Pacific Ocean were anomalously warm.{{Cite web|title=El Niño/Southern Oscillation for Annual 2003|date=January 2004|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information|accessdate=November 18, 2023|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/enso/200313}}

The following listed different types of special weather conditions worldwide.

File:Canicule Europe 2003.jpg

In the summer of 2003, there was a severe heatwave across Europe, considered the warmest summer on the continent since 1540. The heat and drought killed 72,210 people across 15 countries, making it the sixth deadliest disaster worldwide in the first two decades of the 21st century. Most of the deaths occurred in Italy and France. Several nationwide temperature records were broken during the heatwave, with a peak temperature of {{convert|44.1|C|F|abbr=on}} recorded in France on August 12.{{cite journal|title=Did European temperatures in 1540 exceed present-day records?|date=November 15, 2016|author=Rene Orth, Martha M Vogel, Jürg Luterbacher, Christian Pfister, and Sonia I Seneviratne|journal= Environmental Research Letters|volume=11|number=11|url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/11/114021}}{{cite report|title=Human Cost of Disasters: An Overview of the Last 20 Years 2000-2019|publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs|accessdate=November 6, 2023|url=https://www.unisdr.org/files/1145_ewheatwave.en.pdf|format=PDF}}{{cite web|title=Europe Awaits Record-Smashing June Heat Wave|publisher=Weather Underground|author=Bob Henson|date=June 20, 2019|url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Europe-Awaits-Record-Smashing-June-Heat-Wave|accessdate=November 6, 2023}}

There was also a heat wave across the United States from March through November that killed 35 people.

{{main|Tornadoes of 2003}}

Throughout the year, there were 1,374 tornadoes in the United States.{{cite web|title=U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952–2011): 2003 Tornadoes|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/annualtornadomaps/2003.png|website=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=May 14, 2015}} In a one week period in May, a severe weather outbreak produced 335 tornadoes across 26 U.S. states, which set the record for the most twisters in a single week. There were 51 deaths related to the event.

{{main|Tropical cyclones in 2003}}

There was two tropical cyclones active as the year began – Cyclone Zoe in the southern Pacific Ocean, which quickly transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, and Tropical Storm Delfina, which moved across Mozambique and Malawi.{{Cite web|title=2002 Tropical Cyclone ZOE (2002358S08185)|publisher=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=https://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/index.php?name=v04r00-2002358S08185|access-date=2023-11-02|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}}{{Cite web|title=2002 Severe Tropical Storm DELFINA (2002364S16045)|publisher=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=https://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/index.php?name=v04r00-2002364S16045|access-date=2023-11-02|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}} There were seven named storms that developed within the South Pacific during the year. In the South-West Indian Ocean, there were 13 named storms, including a series of four simultaneous storms in February.{{Cite web|series=Storms by Year and Basin|title=2003|publisher=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=https://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/index.php?name=YearBasin-2003|access-date=2023-11-06|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}}{{Cite web|series=Storms by Year and Basin|title=2004|publisher=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=https://www.atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_current/index.php?name=YearBasin-2004|access-date=2023-11-06|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}} The strongest cyclone in 2003 was Cyclone Inigo, which in April became one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Australian basin.{{cite report|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/inigo.shtml|accessdate=October 31, 2023|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Inigo}} Inigo was one of nine named storms in the basin during the year, along with an unnamed storm.

In the northern hemisphere, the western Pacific featured 21 named storms, including Typhoon Maemi, which was the strongest storm on record to hit South Korea, resulting in 120 deaths and damage estimated at ₩5.52 trillion won (KRW, US$4.8 billion).{{cite report|format=PDF|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|accessdate=November 6, 2023|title=Annual Report on Activities of the RSMC Tokyo Japan Meteorological Agency 2003|url=https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/AnnualReport/2003/Text/Text2003.pdf}} In the northern Indian Ocean, there were five cyclonic storms, including one in May that produced flooding across Sri Lanka, killing 260 people. The Atlantic hurricane season lasted from April to November with 16 named storms. These included Fabian and Juan, the strongest hurricanes to hit Bermuda and Nova Scotia, respectively, in several decades.{{cite journal|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/133/6/mwr2940.1.xml|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2003|date=June 1, 2005 |author1=Miles B. Lawrence |author2=Lixion A. Avila |author3=John L. Beven |author4=James L. Franklin |author5=Richard J. Pasch |author6=Stacy R. Stewart|journal=Monthly Weather Review}} In the eastern Pacific, there were also 16 named storms, several of which affected Mexico.{{cite journal|last=Beven|first=John L.|author2=Avila, Lixion A. |author3=Franklin, James L. |author4=Lawrence, Miles B. |author5=Pasch, Richard J.|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/133/5/mwr2917.1.xml |author6=Stewart, Stacy R.|title=Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2003|journal=Monthly Weather Review| date=May 2005|volume=133|issue=5|pages=1403–1414|doi=10.1175/MWR2917.1|bibcode=2005MWRv..133.1403B|doi-access=free}}

File:2003CanberraBushfires.jpg during bushfires]]

In January, high winds and lightning ignited bushfires in Canberra, Australia's capital city, which burned 70% of the territory's nature areas before being contained. The fires killed four people and caused 435 injuries. Throughout the northern hemisphere summer, wildfires burned 10% of Portugal's territory, killing 19 people.{{cite news|title=Portugal forest fire death toll hits 19|agency=Reuters|accessdate=November 19, 2023|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/portugal/portugal-forest-fire-death-toll-hits-19|at=ReliefWeb}}

This is a timeline of deadly weather events during 2003.

• December 2002 to February 2003 – An ongoing cold wave affected southern India, with more than 740 deaths related to cold temperatures in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.{{cite report|title=ACT alert Bangladesh, India and Nepal 01/2003 - Cold spell claims more than 740 lives|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|date=March 13, 2003|accessdate=November 18, 2023|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/act-alert-bangladesh-india-and-nepal-012003-cold-spell-claims-more-740-lives}}
• January 8–21 – Bushfires in Canberra, Australia's capital city, killed four people and caused 435 injuries. The fires also burned 70% of the territory's nature areas.{{cite web|url=https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-canberra-2003/|accessdate=November 19, 2023|title=Canberra Bushfire 2003|publisher=Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}}
• January 9–15 – Cyclone Ami moved through Fiji, killing 14 people.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2002-2003 season |author=RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre |url=http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf |access-date=January 3, 2012 |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001150746/http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_02-031190690457.pdf |date=August 29, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
• January 19–February 5 – Cyclone Beni trekked through the South Pacific for 18 days, eventually dissipating offshore the Australian state of Queensland. There was one death related to Beni.
• January 21 – Intense rainfall produced flooding in Bolivia's capital, La Paz, killing four people.{{Cite web|title=Bolivia: Hail and Rainstorm - Information Bulletin n° 1|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|date=January 25, 2003|accessdate=November 18, 2023|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/bolivia/bolivia-hail-and-rainstorm-information-bulletin-no-1}}

• February 5–15 – Cyclone Gerry passed near Mauritius, killing one person.{{cite web|author=Padgett, Gary|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2003|access-date=2013-05-03|url=http://www.australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0302.htm}}
• February 14–22 A blizzard across eastern North America caused more than 20 deaths after it dropped {{convert|40|in|mm|abbr=on}} of snow.{{cite news|publisher=CNN|title=Winter storm paralyzes much of East Coast|date=February 17, 2003|accessdate=November 6, 2023|url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WEATHER/02/17/winter.storm/}}
• February 25–March 6 – Cyclone Japhet struck Mozambique and crossed into Zimbabwe, killing 25 people.{{cite news|date=2003-04-02|agency=Africa News|title=Government Reports On Disasters}} (accessed via Lexis Nexis on August 16, 2012){{cite news|newspaper=Africa News|date=2003-08-01|title=Zimbabwe; Elaborate Disaster Preparedness Plan Needed|publisher=AllAfrica, Inc}} (accessed via Lexis Nexis on August 16, 2012)
• February 27–March 1 – Cyclone Graham moved ashore western Australia, resulting in one fatality.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/man-drowns-in-wa-floods-20030303-gdgcwv.html|title=Man drowns in WA floods|date=March 3, 2003|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=November 1, 2023}}

• March 1–November 30 – A heat wave across the United States killed 35 people and resulted in US$5 billion in agriculture losses.
• March 1–17 – Cyclone Erica hit New Caledonia, killing two people.{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/142826/cyclone-erica-causes-death,-injuries-and-heavy-damage-in-new-caledonia|title=Cyclone Erica causes death, injuries and heavy damage in New Caledonia|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=March 15, 2003}}
• March 30–April 8 – Cyclone Inigo developed over Indonesia, causing at least 50 fatalities. It later became one of the most intense cyclones in the region, before weakening and striking Western Australia.

• April 4–7 – A severe weather outbreak killed three people across the southern United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/events/US/2003?disasters[]=all-disasters|publisher=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)|title=U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters 2003|accessdate=November 6, 2023}}
• April 9–25 – Typhoon Kujira developed near the Federated States of Micronesia and later moved through southern Japan, killing three people.{{cite report|title=Storm Event Report for Tropical Storm in Micronesia on April 10, 2003|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5355613|work=NCDC Storm Events|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=30 October 2013|author=National Climatic Data Center|location=Micronesia|date=April 10, 2003}}{{cite web|title=Digital Typhoon: Weather Disaster Report (2003-936-04)|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=2003-936-04&lang=en|work=Digital Typhoon Weather Disaster Database|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|access-date=6 October 2013|author=KITAMOTO Asanobu|language=Japanese}}
• April 20–27 – Swells from Tropical Storm Ana capsized a boat in Florida, killing two people.{{cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Ana Event Report|access-date=2007-12-15|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~489312|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520001315/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~489312|archive-date=2011-05-20}}
• April 28 – Flooding in Argentina's Santa Fe Province killed 23 people, described as the worst since records began 1573.https://reliefweb.int/report/argentina/floods-increase-woes-dispossessed-argentineans{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2987335.stm|title=Argentina declares flood disaster|publisher=BBC|date=May 1, 2003|accessdate=November 6, 2023}}

• May 2–13 – Cyclone Manou brushed southeastern Madagascar, resulting in 89 deaths.{{EM-DAT}}
• May 3–10 – A severe weather outbreak in the eastern half of the United States killed 51 people. With 335 tornadoes across 26 U.S. states, the outbreak set the record for the most twisters in a single week. Damage totaled US$4.1 billion.{{cite journal |last1=Hamill |first1=Thomas M. |last2=Schneider |first2=Russell S. |last3=Brooks |first3=Harold E. |last4=Forbes |first4=Gregory S. |last5=Bluestein |first5=Howard B. |last6=Steinberg |first6=Michael |last7=Meléndez |first7=Daniel |last8=Dole |first8=Randall M. |title=The May 2003 Extended Tornado Outbreak |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |date=April 2005 |volume=86 |issue=4 |pages=531–542 |doi=10.1175/BAMS-86-4-531 |publisher=American Meteorological Society|bibcode=2005BAMS...86..531H |s2cid=122031474 |doi-access=free }}
• May 10–20 – A very severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal produced significant rainfall across Sri Lanka. Destructive floods killed 260 people and displaced about 800,000 people.{{cite journal|journal=MAUSAM|volume=55|number=3|date=July 2004|title=Cyclones and depressions over north Indian Ocean during 2003|author=N. Jayanthi|author2=A. B. Mazumdar|author3=S. Sunitha Devi|access-date=2014-04-19|url=http://www.imdchennai.gov.in/Mausamcw/2003.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105319/http://www.imdchennai.gov.in/Mausamcw/2003.pdf|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|author=Lareef Zubair|journal=Natural Hazards|volume=33|number=3|year=2004|title=May 2003 Disaster in Sri Lanka and Cyclone 01-B in the Bay of Bengal|pages=303–318|access-date=2014-04-25|url=http://water.columbia.edu/files/2011/11/Zubair2004Disaster.pdf|doi=10.1023/b:nhaz.0000048462.21938.d6|s2cid=128560863|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508215408/http://water.columbia.edu/files/2011/11/Zubair2004Disaster.pdf|archive-date=2014-05-08|url-status=live}}{{cite news|work=World Socialist Web Site|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International|title=Nearly one million left homeless by Sri Lankan floods|date=2003-05-27|access-date=2014-04-25|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2003/05/sril-m27.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006153720/http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2003/05/sril-m27.html|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=live}}
• May 25–June 2 – Tropical Storm Linfa developed west of the Philippines and later moved through Japan, causing 41 fatalities.{{cite web|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary May 2003|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2003/summ0305.htm|work=Summaries and Track Data|publisher=Australiansevereweather.com|access-date=6 October 2013|author=Padgett, Gary|author2=Boyle, Kevin|author3=Chunliang, Huang|date=May 2003}}

• June–August – A heatwave across Europe, considered the hottest since 1540, killed 72,210 people, particularly across France and Italy.
• June 11–24 – Typhoon Soudelor moved from the Philippine Sea and eventually passed between South Korea and Japan, causing 14 deaths along its path.{{cite report|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|year=2003|access-date=2013-02-01|title=Aftermath report for the Philippines|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=220,20&cmd=all&Id=220}}{{cite report|publisher=Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs|date=2008-09-27|access-date=2013-02-02|title=Water Resources of Korea|url=http://portal.worldwaterforum5.org/wwf5/en-us/worldregions/Asia-Pacific/Northeast%20Asia%20Sub-Region/Consultation%20Library/27Sep08_Northeast%20Mt_Korea.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213225749/http://portal.worldwaterforum5.org/wwf5/en-us/worldregions/Asia-Pacific/Northeast%20Asia%20Sub-Region/Consultation%20Library/27Sep08_Northeast%20Mt_Korea.pdf|archive-date=2012-02-13}}
• June 26–27 – Tropical Storm Carlos struck southern Mexico, killing nine people.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|date=2003-06-30|title=Tropical Storm Carlos kills seven in Mexico|work=Deutsche Presse-Agentur}}{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|date=2003-06-23|title=Tropical Storm Carlos dissipates after causing minor damage along Mexico's southern Pacific coast|agency=Associated Press}}
• June 29–July 3 – Tropical Storm Bill moved ashore the U.S. state of Louisiana and produced a tornado outbreak across the southeastern United States. There were four deaths related to the storm.{{cite web|author=Lixion A. Avila|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Bill Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL032003_Bill}}}}

• July 8–17 – Hurricane Claudette moved through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico before striking the U.S. state of Texas, causing three deaths.{{cite web|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL042003_Claudette}}|format=PDF|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Claudette|author=Jack Beven|date=September 9, 2003|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=May 22, 2015}}
• Mid to late July – Heavy rainfall produced widespread flooding in Sudan, killing 12 people.{{cite report|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|title=Sudan: Floods in Kassala State Appeal No. 19/2003 interim final report|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-floods-kassala-state-appeal-no-192003-interim-final-report|date=February 18, 2004}}
• July 15–23 – Tropical Storm Koni traversed the Philippines, southern China, and Vietnam, resulting in five fatalities.{{cite web|title=Trop. Storm "Gilas"|url=http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track307.htm|work=Tropical Cyclone Track|publisher=Philippine Department of Science and Technology|access-date=December 27, 2013|author=Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|location=Manila, Philippines}}
• July 15–25 – Typhoon Imbudo made landfall in the northern Philippines and later the Chinese province of Guangdong, killing 85 people.{{cite report|publisher=Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration |title=Super Typhoon "Harurot" (19 to 23 July 2003) |access-date=2013-10-05 |url=http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track308.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014133604/http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track308.htm |archive-date=14 October 2013 }}{{cite report|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|title=Typhoon Imbudo (0307) : 17-25 July 2003|access-date=2013-10-06|url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc2003/pdf/section3_2.pdf|date=|archive-date=2013-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015014703/http://www.weather.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc2003/pdf/section3_2.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Kevin Boyle|publisher=Gary Padgett|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary July 2003|access-date=2013-10-05|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0307.htm}}
• July 21–23 – A derecho across the southern United States killed seven people and left over US$1 billion in damage, with the worst impacts in Memphis, Tennessee.
• July 31–August 4 – Tropical Storm Morakot hit Taiwan and southeastern China, resulting in three fatalities.{{cite web|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary August 2003|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0308.htm|work=Summaries and Track Data|publisher=Australiansevereweather.com|access-date=2 November 2013|author=Padgett, Gary|author2=Boyle, Kevin|author3=Chunliang, Huang|date=October 2003}}

• August 2–9 – Typhoon Etau developed near the Federated States of Micronesia and later struck Japan, causing 20 deaths.{{cite report|publisher=Digital Typhoon|title=Typhoon 200310 (Etau)|access-date=2013-11-04|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=200310&basin=wnp&lang=en}}
• August 13–26 – Typhoon Krovanh hit the northern Philippines and southern China, resulting in four fatalities.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclones in 2003|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc2003.pdf|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|access-date=15 November 2013|location=Hong Kong, China|pages=26, 50–56|date=April 2004|archive-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930211527/http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc2003.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Two die in Typhoon Krovanh rampage|date=August 25, 2003|agency=Xinhua News Agency|location=Guangzhou, China}}{{cite news|title=Typhoon Kronvanh kills one, injures five in Vietnam|date=August 26, 2003|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur|location=Vietnam}}
• August 14–14 – Hurricane Erika hit northeastern Mexico, with two people killed by floodwaters.{{cite web|author=Franklin|year=2003|title=Hurricane Erika Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL082003_Erika.pdf|format=PDF|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930105114/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL082003_Erika.pdf|url-status=live}}
• August 22–27 – Hurricane Ignacio struck Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, killing four people. Ignacio was the first hurricane of the annual season, the latest date for the season's first hurricane since reliable satellite observation began in 1966.{{cite web |author=RA IV Hurricane Committee |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |url=http://www.wmo.int/web/www/TCP/Reports/HC26-English.pdf |title=Final Report of the Twenty-Sixth Session |pages=33, 77 |year=2004 |access-date=August 10, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060921123239/http://www.wmo.int/web/www/TCP/Reports/HC26-English.pdf | archive-date = September 21, 2006}}{{cite report|author=Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil: Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres|date=March 2004|title=Informe de la Temporada de Ciclones Tropicales del 2003|publisher=El Secretario de Gobernación de Mexico|access-date=January 1, 2022|url=https://www.files.cenapred.unam.mx/es/BibliotecaVirtual/BibliotecaVirtualSINAPROC/CENAPRED-SINAPROC/92_Informe%20de%20la%20temporada%20de%20ciclones%20tropicales%20del%202003Pri0000.pdf|language=Spanish}}
• August 24 – A squall with gale-force winds struck The Gambia, killing two people and damaging hundreds of buildings.{{cite report|title=Gambia: Squall in Upper River Division - Information Bulletin n° 1|date=September 1, 2003|at=ReliefWeb|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/gambia/gambia-squall-upper-river-division-information-bulletin-n-1|accessdate=November 19, 2023}}
• August 27–September 3 – Typhoon Dujuan struck the Chinese province of Guangdong while also affecting the Philippines and Taiwan, resulting in 44 deaths.{{cite report|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council Office of Civil Defense Operations Center|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970-2003|access-date=2013-10-14|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&cmd=list&range=0,20&YEAR~=2003&cmd=all&Id=226}}
• August 27–September 10 – Hurricane Fabian became the strongest hurricane to hit Bermuda since 1963, while also producing high waves along the eastern coastline of North America. Fabian caused eight deaths as well as US$300 million in damage, the most destructive storm on Bermuda since 1926.{{cite web|author1=Richard J. Pasch |author2=Eric S. Blake |author3=Daniel P. Brown |date=2003-11-19|title=Hurricane Fabian Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL102003_Fabian}}}}{{cite web|author=Jessica Blunden |date=2006-10-17 |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |title=Global Hazards and Significant Events September 2003 |access-date=2010-04-13 |url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/index.php?report%3Dhazards%26year%3D2003%26month%3Dsep |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417083231/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/index.php?report=hazards&year=2003&month=sep |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-04-17 }}

• September 1–November 30 – Wildfires in the U.S. state of California killed 22 people, with damage estimated at US$3.9 billion.
• September 5–16 – Typhoon Maemi was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in South Korea since records began in 1904. Maemi also affected Japan, with 120 fatalities along its path.{{cite report |author=Guy Carpenter |title=Typhoon Maemi Loss Report 2003 |access-date=2013-10-18 |url=http://gcportal.guycarp.com/portal/extranet/popup/pdf/GCPub/GC%20Typhoon%20Maemi%20report.pdf?vid=1 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019163654/http://gcportal.guycarp.com/portal/extranet/popup/pdf/GCPub/GC%20Typhoon%20Maemi%20report.pdf?vid=1 |archive-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead }}{{cite report|author=Digital Typhoon|title=Typhoon 200314 (Maemi)|access-date=2013-10-18|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=200314&basin=wnp&lang=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131018152747/http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=200314&basin=wnp&lang=en|archive-date=2013-10-18|url-status=dead}}
• September 6–20 – Hurricane Isabel became a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale before weakening and striking the U.S. state of North Carolina, resulting in 51 deaths across the eastern United States.{{cite web|author1=Jack Beven |author2=Hugh Cobb |year=2003|title=Hurricane Isabel Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL132003_Isabel}}}}
• September 18–24 – Hurricane Marty hit Mexico's Baja California peninsula, killing 12 people.{{cite web | url = {{NHC TCR url|id=EP132003_Marty}} | title = Hurricane Marty Tropical Cyclone Report | access-date = 2006-07-04 | author = Franklin, James L. | author-link = James Franklin (meteorologist) | date = 2015-05-22 | publisher = National Hurricane Center}}
• September 24–29 – Hurricane Juan made landfall in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, becoming the strongest hurricane to hit Halifax since 1893. Juan killed eight people across Atlantic Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.novaweather.net/Hurricane_Juan_files/Juan_Summary.pdf|first=Chris|last=Fogarty|year=2003|title=Hurricane Juan Storm Summary|work=Canadian Hurricane Centre|publisher=Environment Canada|access-date=2006-11-20|archive-date=2007-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201101308/http://www.novaweather.net/Hurricane_Juan_files/Juan_Summary.pdf|url-status=live}}

• October 1–6 – Tropical Storm Larry hit the Mexican state of Tabasco, causing five deaths.{{cite web|author=Stacy Stuart|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Larry Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL172003_Larry}}}}
• October 6–10 – A depression in the Bay of Bengal moved ashore eastern India, killing 21 people.
• October 9 – A lightning strike on a school in Bikoro, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killed 11 people, with 85 injured.{{cite news|title=Lightning strike kills 11 in Congo|date=October 14, 2003|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/lightning-strike-kills-11-in-congo/5UO4D3637Z6ZJP5C6KPPLJ4JF4/|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=November 19, 2023}}
• October 10–13 – A subtropical low moved through Japan, resulting in four deaths.{{cite web|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary October 2003|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0310.htm|work=Summaries and Track Data|publisher=Australiansevereweather.com|access-date=October 27, 2013|author=Padgett, Gary|author2=Boyle, Kevin|author3=Chunliang, Huang|date=October 2003}}
• October 14–November 14 – Floods in Vietnam, related to two heavy rainfall events, killed at least 103 people.
• October 21–24 – Tropical Depression Ursula killed one person while moving through the Philippines.{{cite report|publisher=Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|title=Tropical Depression "Ursula" (23 to 24 October 2003)|access-date=November 8, 2013|url=http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track321.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220114259/http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track321.htm|archive-date=December 20, 2013}}
• October 29–November 5 – Severe Tropical Storm Melor, known locally as Viring, moved through the Philippines, causing four fatalities.{{cite report|publisher=NASA Earth Observatory|title=Flooding in Luzon, The Philippines|date=November 11, 2003|access-date=November 11, 2013|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=3949}}

• November 2 – Flash floods in Indonesia killed at least 180 people in the tourist town of Bukit Lawang, after 450 buildings were swept away.{{cite news|date=August 31, 2006|title=Indonesia: Bahorok flood victims get houses after three years of living in camps|newspaper=Jakarta Post|at=ReliefWeb|author=Apriadi Gunawan|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-bahorok-flood-victims-get-houses-after-three-years-living-camps|accessdate=November 19, 2023}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=75 Die In Indonesia Resort Flood|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/75-die-in-indonesia-resort-flood/|date=November 4, 2003|accessdate=November 19, 2023}}{{cite news|date=November 30, 2003|title=Indonesia: Flood death toll at 239|publisher=Laksamana.Net|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flood-death-toll-239}}
• November 11–19 – Typhoon Nepartak, known locally as Weng, crossed the central Philippines, killing 13 people.{{cite report|title=Tropical Storm Weng|access-date=January 31, 2013|publisher=Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|url=http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track323.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416100729/http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/track323.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2013}}
• November 14– December – Floods in the Dominican Republic killed at least ten people.{{cite report|title=Dominican Republic - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1|date=November 26, 2003|accessdate=November 19, 2023|publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/dominican-republic/dominican-republic-floods-ocha-situation-report-no-1}}

• December – Monsoonal floods killed more than 200 people in the Philippines.{{cite news|title=Death toll in Philippine landslides rises to 200|agency=Xinhua|date=December 29, 2003|accessdate=November 18, 2023|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/death-toll-philippine-landslides-rises-200|at=ReliefWeb}}
• December – Intense rainfall across Colombia produced flash floods and landslides that killed 42 deaths.{{cite report|title=Colombia: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 1|date=December 16, 2003|accessdate=November 19, 2023|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|at=ReliefWeb|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/colombia/colombia-floods-information-bulletin-n-1-0}}
• December 4–9 – Tropical Storm Odette caused ten fatalities when it struck the Dominican Republic. Odette was the first recorded December Atlantic tropical storm in the Caribbean.{{cite web|author=James Franklin|year=2003|title=Tropical Storm Odette Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=May 22, 2015|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL202003_Odette}}}}
• December 11–16 – A cyclonic storm made landfall in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, resulting in 83 fatalities.
• December 20–22 – Floods in Haiti killed 38 people.{{cite report|title=Haiti: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 2|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|date=December 29, 2003|accessdate=November 18, 2023|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-floods-information-bulletin-n-2|at=ReliefWeb}}
• December 28–30 – A winter storm in Utah killed at least two people from traffic accidents.https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5328121

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Category:2003 meteorology