1973 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1973 Atlantic hurricane season was a below average tropical cyclone season overall. Of the 24 tropical or subtropical cyclones which developed, only 8 became named storms, and of those, only 4 became hurricanes, with 1 reaching major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher) on the newly implemented Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale. This continued the pattern of storm activity from the previous season, as hostile El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions again hindered tropical cyclogenesis and intensification in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

The season officially began on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most tropical cyclones form in the North Atlantic. However, the formation of subtropical or tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated this season by the formation of multiple pre-season systems, none of which attained storm strength. The first named storm of the year, Hurricane Alice, did not form until July 1.

Two of the season's landfalling storms had severe impacts. In August, Hurricane Brenda struck the eastern coast of the Bay of Campeche, killing 10 people in Campeche, and causing the worst flooding there in decades. Then, early in September, Tropical Storm Delia hit the northwestern Gulf of Mexico coast, inundating parts of Texas and Louisiana with significant rainfall, which resulted in 5 fatalities and $6 million (1973 USD) in damage. The most intense cyclone of the season was Hurricane Ellen, which reached Category 3 strength during its trek over open water. Also, the season's final named storm, Tropical Storm Gilda, was meteorologically significant in that it became the first documented tropical cyclone on record to transition into a subtropical cyclone.