Timeline of the 2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season

Last updated

Timeline of the
2003-04 South Pacific cyclone season
2003-2004 South Pacific cyclone season summary.png
Season summary map
Season boundaries
First system formedDecember 4, 2003
Last system dissipatedApril 24, 2004
Longest lasting system
Name Heta
Duration14 days
Storm articles
Other years
1990–91, 2003–04, 2007–08

The 2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season was a below-average season with only three tropical cyclones occurring within the South Pacific to the east of 160°E. The season officially ran from November 1, 2003, to April 30, 2004, with the first disturbance of the season forming on December 4 and the last disturbance dissipating on April 23. [A 1] [A 2] This is the period of the year when most tropical cyclones form within the South Pacific Ocean. [1]

Contents

During the season at least 16 deaths resulted from tropical disturbances whilst overall damage was estimated at $218 million (2004 USD; $352 million2024 USD). The most damaging tropical disturbance was Cyclone Heta which caused at least $211 million (2004 USD; $340 million2024 USD) in damage to six different countries and left three dead. [2] [3] [4] The deadliest tropical disturbance of the season was Tropical Depression 10F, which was responsible for eleven deaths and caused $2.74 million (2004 USD; $4.42 million2024 USD) in damage. [5] Cyclone Ivy also caused 2 deaths and caused $4.17 million (2004 USD; $6.73 million2024 USD) worth of damage to Vanuatu. [2] [6] As a result of the impacts caused by Heta and Ivy, the names were retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists. [1]

Within the South Pacific, tropical cyclones are monitored by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Nadi, Fiji, and the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) in Wellington, New Zealand. RSMC Nadi attaches a number and an F suffix to tropical disturbances that form in or move into the South Pacific. The United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issues unofficial warnings within the South Pacific, designating tropical cyclones with a number and a P suffix. RSMC Nadi and TCWC Wellington both use the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, and measure windspeeds over a period of ten minutes, while the JTWC measures sustained winds over a period of one minute and uses the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale.

This timeline includes information from post-storm reviews by RSMC Nadi, TCWC Wellington and the JTWC. It documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. Reports among warning centers often differ; as such, information from all three agencies has been included.

Timeline

Tropical Depression 10F (2004)Cyclone IvyCyclone HetaTropical cyclone scales#Comparisons across basinsTimeline of the 2003-04 South Pacific cyclone season

November

November 1

December

Image of Tropical Depression 01F on December 4, 2003 01F 4 December 2003.jpg
Image of Tropical Depression 01F on December 4, 2003
December 4
December 5
December 6
December 16
December 20
December 25
December 28
December 29
December 30

January

Image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta on January 6, 2004 Tropical Cyclone Heta 2004.jpg
Image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta on January 6, 2004
Track map of Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta Heta 2004 track.png
Track map of Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta
January 1
January 2
January 3
January 4
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
January 12

February

Track map of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy Ivy 2004 track.png
Track map of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy
Image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy on February 27, 2004 Tropical Cyclone Ivy 27 feb 2004 0215Z.jpg
Image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy on February 27, 2004
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28

March

Image of Tropical Cyclone Grace on March 22, 2004 Tropical Cyclone Grace 2004.jpg
Image of Tropical Cyclone Grace on March 22, 2004
March 3
March 20
March 22
March 23
March 24
March 26
March 30

April

Track map of Tropical Depression 10F (22P) 22-P 2004 track.png
Track map of Tropical Depression 10F (22P)
Image of Tropical Depression 10F (22P) approaching landfall on April 7, 2004 10F 07 apr 2004 2249Z.jpg
Image of Tropical Depression 10F (22P) approaching landfall on April 7, 2004
April 1
April 3
April 4
April 7
April 8
April 9
April 12
April 13
April 19
April 21
April 23
April 30

Notes

  1. An average season has nine tropical cyclones, about half of which become severe tropical cyclones.
  2. RSMC Nadi warns on systems in the South Pacific which is located from the equator to 25°S and from 160°E to 120°W. TCWC Wellington warns on systems from 25°S to 40°S and from 160°E to 120°W
  3. UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time.
  4. FST stands for Fiji Standard Time, which is equivalent to UTC+12.
  5. The figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (knots, miles, or kilometers), following the convention used in the Fiji Meteorological Service's operational products for each storm. All other units are rounded to the nearest digit.

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