SOUTH PACIFIC · 2004 SEASON
Cyclone Heta (2003–2004)
Recorded track and intensity · 25 Dec 2003–12 Jan 2004
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161 mph / 259 km/h
5 Jan 2004 · tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
Track and intensity summary
Heta is listed in the South Pacific basin for the 2004 season. Its archived track begins on 25 Dec 2003, 06:00 UTC at 15°S, 176.5°E. US-agency wind is not available for this first observation. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.
The first Category 5 observation appears on 5 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 140 knots (161 mph / 259 km/h), first recorded on 5 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC at 14°S, 174°W. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 898 hPa on 5 Jan 2004, 06:00 UTC.
The full record spans 426 hours and approximately 6,090 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 30.4°S, 167.6°W on 12 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 8 Jan 2004, 03:00 UTC.
QUICK ANSWERS
Heta in brief
What was Cyclone Heta’s highest wind speed?
140 kt (161 mph / 259 km/h), the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on 5 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC.
What category was Cyclone Heta?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on 5 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Cyclone Heta’s lowest pressure?
898 hPa, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on 5 Jan 2004, 06:00 UTC.
When did Cyclone Heta occur?
The archived track runs from 25 Dec 2003, 06:00 UTC to 12 Jan 2004, 00:00 UTC, with the tropical stage from 30 Dec 2003, 00:00 UTC to 8 Jan 2004, 03:00 UTC.
Where did Cyclone Heta form?
In the South Pacific basin, in the 2004 season. Its first archived position is 15°S, 176.5°E on 25 Dec 2003, 06:00 UTC.
Did Cyclone Heta make landfall?
No archived position places Cyclone Heta’s center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA’s IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive’s pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth’s 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm’s center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive · Field documentation
Sources & methodology