2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season

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2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season
First system formed December 4, 2003
Last system dissipated April 24, 2004
Strongest storm1 Heta – 915 hPa (mbar), 215 km/h (130 mph) (10-minute sustained)
Total disturbances 15
Total depressions 12
Tropical cyclones 3
Severe tropical cyclones 2
Total fatalities 16
Total damage $387 million (2004 USD)
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
South Pacific tropical cyclone seasons
2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
Related articles

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]

During the season at least 16 people were killed from tropical disturbances whilst overall damage was estimated at $218 million (2004 USD; $273 million 2024 USD). The most damaging tropical disturbance was Cyclone Heta which caused at least $211 million (2004 USD; $264 million 2024 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) in damage.[5] Cyclone Ivy also caused 2 deaths and caused $4.17 million (2004 USD; $5.23 million 2024 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.

Seasonal summary

Storms

Tropical Disturbance 02F

Tropical disturbance (Australian scale)
Clockwise vortex
Duration December 16 – December 20
Peak intensity Winds unknown  1002 hPa (mbar)

For several days, a tropical disturbance persisted in the south Pacific, lasting from December 16–20.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta

Category 5 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 5 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
150px 150px
Duration December 28 – January 7
Peak intensity 215 km/h (130 mph) (10-min)  915 hPa (mbar)

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Main article: 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.[7]

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

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Main article: Cyclone Ivy
Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
150px 150px
Duration February 21 – February 28
Peak intensity 165 km/h (105 mph) (10-min)  935 hPa (mbar)

Numbered 05F. Existed between February 21 and February 28. Caused heavy damage in Vanuatu.[8]

Tropical Depression 06F

Formed on March 20, dumped heavy rainfall in Vanuatu.[9][10]

Tropical Cyclone Grace

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
150px 150px
Duration March 21 – March 23
Peak intensity 95 km/h (60 mph) (10-min)  985 hPa (mbar)

Entered the region from the west on March 23, became extratropical the next day.[11] Designated as 07F by Nadi.[9]

Tropical Depression 08F

Existed between March 28 and April 1.[9]

Tropical Depression 09F

Existed between April 1 and April 3.[12]

Tropical Depression 10F

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
150px 150px
Duration April 5 – April 9
Peak intensity 55 km/h (35 mph) (10-min)  995 hPa (mbar)

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Main article: 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.[12][13][14] Damage from the flooding was estimated at US$2.6 million.[15]

Tropical Depression 11F

Existed on April 7.[12]

Tropical Depression 12F

Formed on April 7, later caused severe flooding in Fiji.[12]

Tropical Depression 13F

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.[12]

Other systems

The first numbered tropical disturbance of the season developed within a large area of convection on December 4, to the northwest of the Fijian dependency of Rotuma.[16] During that day the depression slowly moved west, before it was classified as a weak tropical depression during the next day.[17][18] The system subsequently weakened and lost its organisation because of moderate to strong vertical windshear and was last noted during December 6.[19][20] Tropical Disturbance 02F was subsequently first noted on December 16, to the northwest of the Solomon Island of San Cristobal.[21] The system subsequently moved westwards within an area that was conducive for further development

On April 18, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 15F had developed within the monsoon trough, about 515 km (320 mi) to the northeast of Nukuʻalofa in Tonga.[12][22] During that day, the disturbance moved through the Tongan archipelago, before it was last noted later that day.[12] During April 22, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 15F had developed about 500 km (310 mi) to the northeast of the Solomon Islands.[23] Over the next few days the disturbance remained near stationary, weak and disorganized, before it was last noted during April 24.[12][24]

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.

Name Dates active Peak classification Sustained
wind speeds		 Pressure Land areas affected Damage
(USD)		 Deaths Refs
01F December 4 – 6 Tropical Depression Not Specified 1005 hPa (29.68 inHg) None None None
02F December 16 – 20 Tropical Disturbance
Heta December 25, 2003 –
January 8, 2004		 Category 5 severe tropical cyclone 215 km/h (130 mph) 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) Samoan Islands, Niue, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna $225 million 3 [25][26][27][28]
04F
Ivy February 21 – 28 Category 4 severe tropical cyclone 165 km/h (105 mph) 935 hPa (27.61 inHg)
06F
Grace March 21 – 23 Category 2 tropical cyclone 95 km/h (60 mph) 985 hPa (29.11 inHg)
08F
09F
10F April 5 – 9 Tropical Depression 55 km/h (35 mph) 995 hPa (29.38 inHg)
11F
12F
13F
14F April 18–19 Tropical Disturbance Not Specified 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) Tonga None None [22]
15F April 22–24 Tropical Disturbance Not Specified 1006 hPa (29.71 inHg) None None None [23]
Season Aggregates
15 systems December 4 – April 24 215 km/h (130 mph) 915 hPa (27.02 inHg)


See also

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2004
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary March 2004
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ The South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2003–04
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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