The season is one of only six with a storm before and after the official bounds of the season; the others are 1887, 1951, 1953, 1954 and 2007. When Tropical Storm Peter formed on December 7, the season became the second on record with two December storms. The 235 days between the development of the first storm, Tropical Storm Ana, and the dissipation of the last storm, Peter, made the 2003 season the longest season since 1952. The season was the tenth most active on record, behind the 2020, 2005, 1933, 2012, 2011, 2010, 1995, 1887, 1969, 2019, 2017, and 1936 seasons; it tied with 1949, 1950, 1954, and 2008.