Timeline of the 2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season

Track map of all the tropical depressions (Heta, Ivy, 10F/22P) monitored by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center during the 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.[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; $272 million 2015 USD). The most damaging tropical disturbance was Cyclone Heta which caused at least $211 million (2004 USD; $263 million 2015 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; $3.42 million 2015 USD) in damage.[5] Cyclone Ivy also caused 2 deaths and caused $4.17 million (2004 USD; $5.21 million 2015 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 of storms

Cyclone Heta

All data for the timeline graphic is taken from RSMC Nadi/TCWC Wellington.

November

November 1

December

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 Cyclone Heta on January 6, 2004.
Image of Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta on January 6, 2004
Heta formed in the upper center of the map before moving generally northeastward. The storm then curved to the southeast and continued on that course until it became extratropical.
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

Ivy formed in the upper center of the map and completed a loop before curving towards the southeast and becoming extratropical near New Zealand.
Track map of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ivy
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
March 3
March 20
March 22
March 23
March 24
March 26
March 30

April

Tropical Cyclone 10F (22P) formed in the upper left and traveled generally towards the southeast before it dissipated.
Track map of Tropical Depression 10F (22P)
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.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean (2008 Edition)". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Economic impact of Natural Disasters on development in the Pacific". Australian Agency for International Development, University of the South Pacific. Pacific Disaster.net. 2005. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Tropical Cyclone Season Summary 2003–04" (PDF). Fiji Meteorological Service. 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  4. "American Samoa Event Report: Tropical Cyclone Heta". National Climatic Data Center. 2004. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  5. "Tropical Cyclone Country reports: 2006-08 Fiji". Fiji Meteorological Service. World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  6. "A Special Submission to the UN Committee for Development Policy on Vanuatu’s LDC Status". United Nations. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Ocean 2008" (PDF). RA V Tropical cyclone Committee. World Meteorological Organization. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  8. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-04" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2004-12-05. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  9. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-05". Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2004-12-06. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  10. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-06" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2003-12-07. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  11. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-16" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2003-12-16. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  12. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-20" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2003-12-20. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 13.21 13.22 13.23 13.24 13.25 13.26 13.27 "RSMC Nadi Best Track Data for the 2003/2004 Season". Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Bureau of Meteorology (Australia). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2003-12-29" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2003-12-16. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 15.12 "Tropical Cyclone Heta (07P) best track analysis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2005-10-12. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 "Tropical Cyclone Ivy (13P) best track analysis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2005-10-05. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  17. "South Pacific Ocean Best Track Data 1967–2006" (XLS). Fiji Meteorological Service, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Bureau of Meteorology (Australia). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Gary Padgett (2004). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks March 2004". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Gary Padgett (2004). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks April 2004". Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2004-04-07" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. 2004-04-08. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 "Tropical Depression 10F (22P) best track analysis". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2005-10-05. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  22. "Severe Weather Advisories for 2004-04-08" (TXT). MT Archive. 2004-04-09. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Severe Weather Advisories for 2004-04-12" (TXT). Fiji Meteorological Service. MT Archive. MT Archive. 2004-04-13. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  24. "Severe Weather Advisories for 2004-04-13" (TXT). MT Archive. 2004-04-14. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  25. 25.0 25.1 "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2004-04-19" (TXT). MT Archive. 2004-04-19. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  26. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2004-04-22" (TXT). MT Archive. 2004-04-22. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  27. "Severe Weather Advisories issued on 2010-04-24" (TXT). MT Archive. 2004-04-24. Retrieved 2010-05-16.

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