2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season

Tropical cyclone season SPac 2004 2003-2004 South Pacific cyclone season summary.png December 4, 2003 April 24, 2004 Heta 915 115 10 15 12 3 (tied, second lowest with 2011–12) 2 16 387 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06 2003–04 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2003–04 Australian region cyclone season Timeline of the 2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season 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.An average season has nine tropical cyclones, about half of which become severe tropical cyclones.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 This is the period of the year when most tropical cyclones form within the South Pacific Ocean.Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean (2008 Edition) http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP24-English2008.pdf World Meteorological Organization May 26, 2010 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090325105120/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/TCP24-English2008.pdf March 25, 2009 mdy During the season at least 16 people were killed from tropical disturbances whilst overall damage was estimated at $217917626 (2004 USD; $US 217917626 2004 2  USD). The most damaging tropical disturbance was Cyclone Heta which caused at least $211004414 (2004 USD; $US 211004414 2004 2  USD) in damage to six different countries and left three dead.http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/economic%20impact%20of%20natural%20disasters%20on%20development%20in%20the%20pacific.pdf Economic impact of Natural Disasters on development in the Pacific 2005 Australian Agency for International Development, University of the South Pacific Pacific Disaster.net June 2, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120311213402/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/economic%20impact%20of%20natural%20disasters%20on%20development%20in%20the%20pacific.pdf March 11, 2012 mdy http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_03-041188357124.pdf Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 2003–04 August 29, 2007 Fiji Meteorological Service November 15, 2012 https://www.webcitation.org/5rXci8DQd?url=http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_03-041188357124.pdf July 27, 2010 dead mdy National Climatic Data Center 2004 June 2, 2010 American Samoa Event Report: Tropical Cyclone Heta http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~563688 dead https://archive.today/20240522094424/https://www.webcitation.org/5rcbRZVTX?url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll%3Fwwevent~ShowEvent~563688 May 22, 2024 mdy-all The deadliest tropical disturbance of the season was Tropical Depression 10F, which was responsible for eleven deaths and caused $2740080 (2004 USD) in damage.http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/RAVTCC-12FinalReport_AppIV_CountryReports.pdf Tropical Cyclone Country reports: 2006–08 Fiji Fiji Meteorological Service World Meteorological Organization June 2, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120224130841/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/RAVTCC-12FinalReport_AppIV_CountryReports.pdf February 24, 2012 mdy Cyclone Ivy also caused 2 deaths and caused $4173132 (2004 USD; $US 4173132 2004 2  USD) worth of damage to Vanuatu.https://www.un.org/esa/policy/devplan/profile/plen4d_cdp2009.pdf A Special Submission to the UN Committee for Development Policy on Vanuatu's LDC Status March 4, 2009 United Nations August 7, 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191446/http://www.un.org/esa/policy/devplan/profile/plen4d_cdp2009.pdf November 2, 2012 mdy As a result of the impacts caused by Heta and Ivy, the names were retired from the tropical cyclone naming lists. 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. Seasonal summary Systems September 2012 Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta SPac Tropical Cyclone Heta 2004.jpg Heta 2004 track.png December 28 January 7 115 140 915 Cyclone Heta Cyclone Heta developed in the South Pacific Ocean and reached cyclone-force winds on January 1, 2004. It struck the island of Niue with a much more direct blow on January 6. Heta's eyewall hit Niue almost exactly at the height of the storm's power. It caused extensive property damage throughout the island, and two people were killed. Efforts to rebuild from the storm in Niue lasted almost the entire year of 2004. Heta caused American Samoa to declare a state of emergency (officially a "Declaration of Emergency" in American Samoan law) on January 7, and even though officially the storm never made landfall there, it necessitated the emergency evacuation of 140 people and was responsible for property damage.http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2004atcr/ Summary of South Pacific and South Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones December 2, 2007 2004 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report Joint Typhoon Warning Center June 7, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110607042424/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2004atcr/ dead The nation of Tonga was also affected by Heta, as the winds swept away trees that were needed for the country's food supply. However, Tonga did not receive a direct hit or suffer such extensive loss as Niue. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy SPac Tropical Cyclone Ivy 27 feb 2004 0215Z.jpg Ivy 2004 track.png February 21 February 28 90 105 935 Cyclone Ivy Numbered 05F. Existed between February 21 and February 28. Caused heavy damage in Vanuatu.Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2004 Tropical Depression 06F SPac March 20 March 22 spdepression Formed on March 20, dumped heavy rainfall in Vanuatu.Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 2004http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=9114 Tropical depression affects south of Vanuatu March 22, 2004 Radio New Zealand International September 18, 2011 06F was last noted on March 22. Tropical Cyclone Grace SPac Tropical Cyclone Grace 2004.jpg Grace 2004 track.png March 21 March 23 50 35 985 Entered the region from the west on March 23, became extratropical the next day.http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi Tropical Cyclone Information for Australia and Southern Hemisphere December 2, 2007 Australian Bureau of Meteorology September 23, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220123/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi dead Designated as 07F by Nadi. Tropical Depression 08F SPac March 28 April 1 spdepression Existed between March 28 and April 1. Tropical Depression 09F SPac April 1 April 3 spdepression Existed between April 1 and April 3. Tropical Depression 10F SPac 10F 2004-04-07 0130Z.jpg April 5 April 9 10F 2004 path.png 30 35 995 Tropical Depression 10F (2004) Existed between April 6 and April 9. The storm was given the number 22P by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It was responsible for causing severe flooding to Fiji and 11 deaths.The New Zealand Herald June 5, 2004 Floods hit FijiThe South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2003–04 Damage from the flooding was estimated at US$2.6 million.The New Zealand Herald April 18, 2004 Fiji flood bill tipped to be over $2.6 million Tropical Depression 12F SPac April 7 April 13 spdepression Formed on April 7, later caused severe flooding in Fiji. 12F was last noted on April 13. Tropical Depression 13F SPac April 11 April 13 spdepression During April 11 a weak tropical low moved into the South Pacific basin from the Australian region, and was designated as Tropical Disturbance 13F by RSMC Nadi later that day. 13F was last noted on April 13 as a Tropical Depression. Other systems The first numbered tropical disturbance of the season developed within a large area of atmospheric convection on December 4, to the northwest of the Fijian dependency of Rotuma.RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre Tropical Disturbance Summary December 4, 2003 00z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/04/text/Severe/Severe.04 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 4, 2003 During that day the depression slowly moved west, before it was classified as a weak tropical depression during the next day.RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre Tropical Disturbance Summary December 4, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/04/text/Severe/Severe.04 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 4, 2003RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre Tropical Disturbance Summary December 5, 2003 09z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/05/text/Severe/Severe.05 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 5, 2003 The system subsequently weakened and lost its organisation because of moderate to strong vertical windshear and was last noted during December 6.Padgett, Gary Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary December 2003 http://www.australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0312.htm July 13, 2015 October 26, 2006RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre Tropical Disturbance Summary December 6, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/06/text/Severe/Severe.06 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 6, 2003 Tropical Disturbance 02F was first noted by the FMS during December 16, within an environment conducive for further development, about 340 km mi 5 on to the west of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.Tropical Disturbance Summary December 16, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/16/text/Severe/Severe.16 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 16, 2003Tropical Disturbance Summary December 17, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/17/text/Severe/Severe.16 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 17, 2003 Over the next few days, the system remained poorly organised and slow-moving within an area of moderate vertical windshear, before it was last noted by the FMS during December 20, as it entered the Australian region.Tropical Disturbance Summary December 18, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/18/text/Severe/Severe.18 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 18, 2003Tropical Disturbance Summary December 20, 2003 23z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/20/text/Severe/Severe.20 Fiji Meteorological Service July 13, 2015 December 20, 2003 Tropical Disturbance 04F was subsequently first noted within a broad area of low pressure by the FMS, while it was located on the border with the South Pacific basin, about 100 km mi 5 on to the south of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.Tropical Disturbance Summary December 29, 2003 06z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/29/text/Severe/Severe.29 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 December 29, 2003 The system was located in a moderate area of vertical windshear and was poorly organised with atmospheric convection confined to the system's eastern semicircle. The system subsequently moved south-eastwards and remained poorly organised, before it was last noted by the FMS later that day while it was located to the south of San Cristobal Island.Tropical Disturbance Summary December 29, 2003 21z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2003/12/29/text/Severe/Severe.29 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 December 29, 2003 During April 6, the FMS reported that Tropical Depression 11F had developed within a monsoon trough, about 140 km mi on 5 to the north-east of Suva in Fiji.Tropical Disturbance Summary April 7, 2004 00z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2004/04/07/text/Severe/Severe.07 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 April 6, 2004Tropical Disturbance Summary April 7, 2004 09z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2004/04/07/text/Severe/Severe.07 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 April 6, 2004 Over the next day, the system moved south-eastwards towards Tonga, before it was last noted by the FMS later that day, while it was located about 300 km mi 5 on to the southwest of Tongatapu in Tonga.Tropical Disturbance Summary April 8, 2004 00z http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2004/04/08/text/Severe/Severe.08 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 April 8, 2004Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary April 2004 Padgett, Gary http://www.australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0404.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120205205830/http://www.australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ0404.htm February 5, 2012 February 11, 2020 dead On April 18, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 14F had developed within the monsoon trough, about 515 km mi 5 on to the northeast of Nukuʻalofa in Tonga.Tropical Disturbance Summary April 19, 2004 00z Fiji Meteorological Service RSMC Nadi – Tropical Cyclone Centre April 19, 2004 During that day, the disturbance moved through the Tongan archipelago, before it was last noted later that day. During April 22, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 15F had developed around 500 km mi 5 on to the northeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.Tropical Disturbance Summary April 20, 2004 10z Fiji Meteorological Service April 20, 2004 http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2004/04/20/text/Severe/Severe.20 February 11, 2020 Over the next couple of days, the system remained poorly organised and near stationary to the northeast of the Solomon Islands, before it was last noted during April 24.Tropical Disturbance Summary April 24, 2004 01z April 24, 2004 http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2004/04/24/text/Severe/Severe.24 Fiji Meteorological Service February 11, 2020 Season effects This table lists all the storms that developed in the South Pacific to the east of longitude 160°E during the 2003–04 season. |- | 01F || 031204 December 4 – 6 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|1005 hPa inHg on 4 off || None || None || None || |- | 02F || 031216 December 16 – 20 || bgcolor=#DI|Tropical Disturbance || bgcolor=#DI|Not Specified || bgcolor=#DI|1000 hPa inHg on 4 off || Solomon Islands || None || None || |- | Heta || 041225 December 25 –January 8 || bgcolor=#A5|Category 5 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A5|215 215 km/h (130 mph) || bgcolor=#A5|915 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) || Samoan Islands, Niue, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna || 225000000 $ || 3 ||Université Catholique de Louvain EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database for North America 2014-05-03 http://www.em-dat.net usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20070621052601/http://www.em-dat.net/ June 21, 2007 Prasad, Binman Economic Impact of Natural Disasters on development in the Pacific Volume 1: Research Report June 29, 2010 March 11, 2012 10–89 Kaloumaira, Atu South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission McKenzie, Emily https://web.archive.org/web/20120311213402/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/economic%20impact%20of%20natural%20disasters%20on%20development%20in%20the%20pacific.pdf http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/economic%20impact%20of%20natural%20disasters%20on%20development%20in%20the%20pacific.pdf 2005 dead mdy RSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre https://www.webcitation.org/5rXci8DQd?url=http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_03-041188357124.pdf RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2003–04 Fiji Meteorological Service July 27, 2010 July 27, 2010 2005 http://www.met.gov.fj/documents/TC_Seasonal_Summary_03-041188357124.pdf dead mdy July 31, 2010 National Climatic Data Center http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~563688 Storm events for American Samoa: Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta May 22, 2024 https://archive.today/20240522094424/https://www.webcitation.org/5rcbRZVTX?url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll%3Fwwevent~ShowEvent~563688 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Unattributed 2003 dead mdy-all |- | 04F || 20041229 December 29 || bgcolor=#DI|Tropical Disturbance || bgcolor=#DI|Not Specified || bgcolor=#DI|1004 hPa inHg on 4 off || Solomon Islands || None || None || |- | Ivy || 040221 February 21 – 28 || bgcolor=#A4|5 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A4|165 165 km/h (105 mph) || bgcolor=#A4|0935 935 hPa (27.61 inHg) || Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand ||$3.8 million ||4|| |- | 06F || March 20 – 22 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || None || None || None || |- | Grace || 040321 March 21 – 23 || bgcolor=#A2|3 Category 2 tropical cyclone || bgcolor=#A2|095 95 km/h (60 mph) || bgcolor=#A2|0985 985 hPa (29.11 inHg) || None || None || None || |- | 08F || March 28 – April 1 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || None || None || None || |- | 09F || April 1 – 3 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || None || None || None || |- | 10F || 041005 April 5 – 9 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|55 km/h (35 mph) || bgcolor=#TD|995 hPa (29.38 inHg) || Fiji || $4.17 million||11|| |- | 11F || April 6 – 7 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || None || None || None || |- | 12F || April 7 – 13 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || Fiji || None || None || |- | 13F || April 11 – 13 || bgcolor=#TD|Tropical Depression || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || bgcolor=#TD|Not Specified || None || None || None || |- | 14F || 040418 April 18 – 19 || bgcolor=#DI|0 Tropical Disturbance || bgcolor=#DI|999 Not Specified || bgcolor=#DI|1006 hPa inHg 4 on off || Tonga || 0 None || 0 None || |- | 15F || 20040422 April 22 – 24 || bgcolor=#DI|0 Tropical Disturbance || bgcolor=#DI|999 Not Specified || bgcolor=#DI|1006 hPa inHg 4 on off || None || 0 None || 0 None || |- 15 systems December 4 – April 24 215 km/h (130 mph) 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) $387 million 16 See also Tropical cyclones List of Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons Tropical cyclones in 2004 Atlantic hurricane seasons: 2003, 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2003, 2004 Pacific hurricane seasons: 2003, 2004 Pacific typhoon seasons: 2003, 2004 Notes A References External links 2003 y 2000 South Pacific cyclone yes Category:South Pacific cyclone seasons Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines 2003 SPAC 2004 SPAC