It was thought that the 2003 Atlantic Hurricane Season would end with Tropical Storm Nicholas, but on December 2, 2003(which is two days after the season ended) a strong tropical wave formed in the Southern Caribbean. At 10 A.M. on December 4, the tropical wave became Tropical Depression 20. Later in the day the storm became Tropical Storm Odette, the 15th named storm of the season, and the first tropical system ever to form in the Caribbean in December. On December 5, the storm became Hurricane Odette, which is to date the only Atlantic basin hurricane to form in December.

The storm moved north and hit Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Four were killed and 15 injured in the Dominican Republic.