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Hurricane Isabel

Sep 6, 2003 to Sep 20, 2003Peak 167 mph915 mb

Hurricane Isabel passed within 50 miles of 128 counties in 6 states. It was strongest near Dare County, NC, as a Category 2 on September 18, 2003.

  • Major hurricane
  • Hurricane
  • Tropical storm
  • Post-tropical
Watch how it happened

Hurricane Isabel · 2003

How it happened

Follow the storm’s path, strength and milestones.

About this replay
Date and time (UTC)—Historical replay — not a forecast
Wind speed—
Category—
Pressure—

From space

Hurricane Isabel on September 17, 2003, about 26 hours before landfall in Carteret County, NC.

Hurricane Isabel on September 17, 2003, about 26 hours before landfall in Carteret County, NC.
True-colour image from MODIS, aboard NASA’s Terra satellite, with the gaps between its orbits filled from Aqua, on its late-morning pass, around 15:22 UTC. Imagery: NASA Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System.

The storm

Peak strength
Category 5
167 mph, 145 kt
Lowest pressure
915 mb
Over the whole track
Counties within 50 miles
128
MD, NC, OH, PA, VA, WV
Counties within 100 miles
230
DC, MD, NC, OH, PA, VA, WV
Strongest near the U.S.
Category 2
Dare County, NC, 33.6 mi, Sep 18, 2003
Landfalls recorded
1
Anywhere on the track

Every county it passed

Closest approach to each county boundary, with the storm’s strength at that moment.

Counties within 100 miles
Westmoreland CountyPA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Fayette CountyPA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Martin CountyNC0.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Northampton CountyNC0.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Bertie CountyNC0.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Albemarle CountyVA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Garrett CountyMD0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Grant CountyWV0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Allegheny CountyPA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Buckingham CountyVA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Rockingham CountyVA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Beaufort CountyNC0.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Brunswick CountyVA0.0Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Nottoway CountyVA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Amelia CountyVA0.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Halifax CountyNC0.6Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Washington CountyPA1.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Dinwiddie CountyVA2.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Greene CountyVA2.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pamlico CountyNC2.2Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Greensville CountyVA2.6Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Cumberland CountyVA3.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Charlottesville cityVA3.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Carteret CountyNC3.5Category 2Sep 18, 2003
Fluvanna CountyVA4.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Hardy CountyWV4.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Washington CountyNC5.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Hyde CountyNC5.3Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Lunenburg CountyVA5.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Mineral CountyWV5.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Augusta CountyVA5.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Hertford CountyNC6.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Preston CountyWV6.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Powhatan CountyVA7.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Emporia cityVA7.6Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Harrisonburg cityVA7.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Prince Edward CountyVA7.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Beaver CountyPA7.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Monongalia CountyWV8.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Somerset CountyPA10.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Tucker CountyWV10.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Goochland CountyVA10.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Louisa CountyVA10.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Southampton CountyVA11.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Pendleton CountyWV11.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Shenandoah CountyVA11.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Randolph CountyWV11.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Sussex CountyVA11.8Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Chesterfield CountyVA12.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Page CountyVA12.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pitt CountyNC13.2Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Edgecombe CountyNC13.5Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Greene CountyPA13.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Warren CountyNC15.4Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Waynesboro cityVA15.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Madison CountyVA15.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Nelson CountyVA16.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Orange CountyVA17.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Craven CountyNC17.6Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Allegany CountyMD17.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Mecklenburg CountyVA17.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Staunton cityVA18.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Hampshire CountyWV19.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Armstrong CountyPA22.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Nash CountyNC22.8Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Chowan CountyNC23.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Appomattox CountyVA23.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Tyrrell CountyNC24.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Gates CountyNC24.7Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Brooke CountyWV25.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Barbour CountyWV25.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Highland CountyVA25.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Charlotte CountyVA25.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Prince George CountyVA26.2Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Taylor CountyWV26.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Petersburg cityVA27.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Marion CountyWV27.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Jefferson CountyOH27.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Hanover CountyVA28.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Henrico CountyVA29.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Perquimans CountyNC30.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Rappahannock CountyVA30.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Culpeper CountyVA30.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Colonial Heights cityVA30.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Richmond cityVA31.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Indiana CountyPA31.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Warren CountyVA31.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Amherst CountyVA31.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Spotsylvania CountyVA31.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Suffolk cityVA32.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Frederick CountyVA32.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Franklin cityVA33.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Franklin CountyNC33.2Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Dare CountyNC33.6Category 2Sep 18, 2003
Pocahontas CountyWV33.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Ohio CountyWV34.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Jones CountyNC34.6Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Isle of Wight CountyVA35.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Hopewell cityVA35.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Wilson CountyNC35.8Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Rockbridge CountyVA35.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Vance CountyNC36.2Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Greene CountyNC36.7Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Marshall CountyWV37.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Lenoir CountyNC37.2Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Bedford CountyPA39.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Harrison CountyWV40.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Charles City CountyVA40.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Bath CountyVA40.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Campbell CountyVA40.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Surry CountyVA41.5Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Belmont CountyOH41.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Wetzel CountyWV41.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Halifax CountyVA42.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Caroline CountyVA42.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Cambria CountyPA42.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Harrison CountyOH42.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Granville CountyNC43.2Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Upshur CountyWV43.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pasquotank CountyNC45.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Fauquier CountyVA45.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Lynchburg cityVA46.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Onslow CountyNC47.5Category 2Sep 18, 2003
Buena Vista cityVA47.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Camden CountyNC48.3Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Wayne CountyNC48.5Category 1Sep 18, 2003
New Kent CountyVA49.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Morgan CountyWV49.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Bedford CountyVA50.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Clarke CountyVA50.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Chesapeake cityVA50.6Category 1Sep 18, 2003
King William CountyVA50.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Lexington cityVA51.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Winchester cityVA51.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Jefferson CountyPA52.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Lewis CountyWV53.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Doddridge CountyWV54.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Stafford CountyVA54.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Monroe CountyOH55.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Berkeley CountyWV56.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Washington CountyMD57.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Alleghany CountyVA57.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Fredericksburg cityVA57.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pittsylvania CountyVA57.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Tyler CountyWV58.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Fulton CountyPA58.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Loudoun CountyVA58.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
James City CountyVA58.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Johnston CountyNC59.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Wake CountyNC59.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Currituck CountyNC59.3Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Person CountyNC59.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Botetourt CountyVA62.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Jefferson CountyWV62.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Duplin CountyNC62.6Category 1Sep 18, 2003
King and Queen CountyVA62.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Webster CountyWV64.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Portsmouth cityVA65.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Blair CountyPA65.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Guernsey CountyOH65.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Prince William CountyVA65.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Williamsburg cityVA65.8Category 1Sep 19, 2003
King George CountyVA66.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Newport News cityVA66.3Category 1Sep 19, 2003
York CountyVA67.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Clearfield CountyPA67.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Greenbrier CountyWV68.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Essex CountyVA68.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Virginia Beach cityVA68.5Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Durham CountyNC69.1Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Braxton CountyWV69.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Hampton cityVA70.4Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Manassas cityVA70.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Norfolk cityVA70.7Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Gloucester CountyVA71.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Franklin CountyPA71.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Noble CountyOH72.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Ritchie CountyWV73.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Gilmer CountyWV73.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Charles CountyMD73.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Fairfax CountyVA73.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Manassas Park cityVA74.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Washington CountyOH74.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pender CountyNC74.9Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Westmoreland CountyVA75.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Caswell CountyNC76.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Poquoson cityVA76.1Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Orange CountyNC76.4Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Covington cityVA76.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Pleasants CountyWV78.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Middlesex CountyVA78.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Sampson CountyNC78.8Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Huntingdon CountyPA79.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Richmond CountyVA79.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Frederick CountyMD81.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Franklin CountyVA82.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Montgomery CountyMD82.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Danville cityVA83.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Fairfax cityVA83.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Craig CountyVA84.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Mathews CountyVA84.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Nicholas CountyWV86.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Lancaster CountyVA86.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Roanoke CountyVA86.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Centre CountyPA87.7Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Roanoke cityVA88.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Chatham CountyNC88.4Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Muskingum CountyOH90.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Prince George's CountyMD90.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Henry CountyVA91.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
St. Mary's CountyMD91.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Harnett CountyNC91.2Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Falls Church cityVA91.3Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Northumberland CountyVA91.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Alexandria cityVA91.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Calhoun CountyWV92.0Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Alamance CountyNC92.1Category 1Sep 19, 2003
Arlington CountyVA92.6Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
New Hanover CountyNC92.8Category 2Sep 18, 2003
Wood CountyWV93.5Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Monroe CountyWV94.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Salem cityVA94.9Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Northampton CountyVA95.0Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Rockingham CountyNC95.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
District of ColumbiaDC96.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Wirt CountyWV97.1Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Clay CountyWV97.2Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Morgan CountyOH98.4Tropical stormSep 19, 2003
Cumberland CountyNC98.9Category 1Sep 18, 2003
Mifflin CountyPA99.8Tropical stormSep 19, 2003

Distances are measured from hourly positions interpolated between the National Hurricane Center’s six-hourly fixes to each county boundary. Strength is shown only where the storm was still tropical. Methodology.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2. Storm totals cover the Atlantic and Northeast and Central Pacific basins.