Effects of Hurricane Isabel in New
York and New England
Hurricane Isabel
Extratropical cyclone (SSHS)
Tropical Storm Isabel over Pennsylvania shortly before
becoming an extratropical cyclone
Areas
affected
New York, New England
Date
September 19, 2003
Highest
winds
40 mph (65 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
Fatalities 2 direct
Damage
$90 million (2003 USD)
Part of the
2003 Atlantic hurricane season
Part of a series on Hurricane Isabel
Effects
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Maryland and Washington, D.C.
• Delaware
• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• New York and New England
• Canada
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 (265 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 (165 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 dam-
age (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.
Preparations
Hours before Isabel made landfall on North
Carolina, the National Hurricane Center is-
sued a tropical storm warning for a portion of
the southern Long Island coastline from the
New Jersey/New York border to Moriches.[1]
About a day before the hurricane moved
ashore, forecasters estimated the hurricane
possessed a 10% chance of passing within
75 miles (120 km) of New York City. Other
portions