2003–04 South Pacific cyclone season

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

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.

Category 4 severe tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Category 3 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
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 (Australian scale)
Duration	March 20 – March 22
Peak intensity	Winds not specified;

Formed on March 20, dumped heavy rainfall in Vanuatu.[9][10] 06F was last noted on March 22.

Category 2 tropical cyclone (Australian scale)
Tropical storm (SSHWS)
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 (Australian scale)
Duration	March 28 – April 1
Peak intensity	Winds not specified;

Existed between March 28 and April 1.[9]

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration	April 1 – April 3
Peak intensity	Winds not specified;

Existed between April 1 and April 3.[12]

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

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 (Australian scale)
Duration	April 7 – April 13
Peak intensity	Winds not specified;

Formed on April 7, later caused severe flooding in Fiji.[12] 12F was last noted on April 13.

Tropical depression (Australian scale)
Duration	April 11 – April 13
Peak intensity	Winds not specified;

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] 13F was last noted on April 13 as a Tropical Depression.

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.[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 first noted by the FMS during December 16, within an environment conducive for further development, about 340 km (210 mi) to the west of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[21][22] 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.[23][24] 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 (60 mi) to the south of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[25] 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.[25] 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.[26]

During April 6, the FMS reported that Tropical Depression 11F had developed within a monsoon trough, about 140 km (85 mi) to the north-east of Suva in Fiji.[27][28] 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 (185 mi) to the southwest of Tongatapu in Tonga.[28][29][12]

On April 18, RSMC Nadi reported that Tropical Disturbance 14F had developed within the monsoon trough, about 515 km (320 mi) to the northeast of Nukuʻalofa in Tonga.[12][30] During that day, the disturbance moved through the Tongan archipelago, before it was last noted later that day.[12]

During April 22, the FMS reported that Tropical Disturbance 15F had developed around 500 km (310 mi) to the northeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.[31] 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.[12][32]