Effects of Hurricane Isabel in New York and New England
| Extratropical cyclone (SSHWS/NWS) | |
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Tropical Storm Isabel over Pennsylvania shortly before becoming an extratropical cyclone
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| Winds |
1-minute sustained: 40 mph (65 km/h) |
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| Fatalities | 2 direct |
| Damage | $90 million (2003 USD) |
| Areas affected | New York, New England |
| Part of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season | |
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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), 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.
Hours before Isabel made landfall on North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for a portion of the southern Long Island coastline from the New Jersey/New York border to Moriches. 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 of southern New England were estimated to have similar probabilities, with the same forecast predicting a 3% chance for it passing within 75 miles (120 km) of Eastport, Maine. By about two days before Isabel struck land until several hours after it moved ashore, forecasters predicted the storm to pass over western New York as a transitioning tropical cyclone before passing into Canada as an extratropical cyclone.
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Wikipedia