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SOUTH PACIFIC · 2003 SEASON

Cyclone Zoe (2002–2003)

Recorded track and intensity · 25 Dec 2002–4 Jan 2003

PEAK INTENSITYCategory 5
THE COMPLETE TRACKOpen in the explorer
ZOE: complete recorded track, 25 Dec 2002–4 Jan 2003Recorded track from 25 Dec 2002 to 4 Jan 2003. Colors show the recorded wind category. The highlighted position follows the replay controls.FIJITONGAVANUATUNEW CALEDONIA25 Dec, 00:00 UTC26 Dec, 00:00 UTC27 Dec, 00:00 UTC28 Dec, 00:00 UTC29 Dec, 00:00 UTC30 Dec, 00:00 UTC31 Dec, 00:00 UTC1 Jan, 00:00 UTC2 Jan, 00:00 UTC3 Jan, 00:00 UTC4 Jan, 00:00 UTCPeak · Category 525 DEC4 JAN

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DepressionTropical stormCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5Post-tropical
All times UTC

Wind speed & pressure

27 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Wind speed 155 ktPressure 879 hPa
0860809401601020kthPa25 Dec28 Dec1 Jan4 Jan

Forward speed & ACE

27 Dec, 12:00 UTC
Forward speed 6 ktCumulative ACE 7.17 10⁴ kt²
0010152030kt10⁴ kt²25 Dec28 Dec1 Jan4 Jan

Hover or tap either graph to follow the track. The slider controls both graphs. Each line uses its matching colored axis.

Forward speed measures the center’s motion. ACE accumulates squared one-minute winds at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC during tropical or subtropical stages at 34 kt or above. Missing measurements remain gaps.

Maximum sustained wind155 kt

178 mph / 287 km/h

Minimum recorded pressure879 hPa

27 Dec 2002 · tropical stage

Recorded track duration10.5 days

Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present

Approximate track distance3,930 km

Along the recorded center positions

STORM HISTORY

Track and intensity summary

Zoe is listed in the South Pacific basin for the 2003 season. Its archived track begins on 25 Dec 2002, 00:00 UTC at 10.4°S, 180°E. The first observation lists sustained winds of 25 knots. These dates describe the available observations, which may include stages before and after the tropical cyclone phase.

The first Category 5 observation appears on 27 Dec 2002, 09:00 UTC. The highest recorded tropical-stage one-minute sustained wind is 155 knots (178 mph / 287 km/h), first recorded on 27 Dec 2002, 12:00 UTC at 11.7°S, 170.6°E. The minimum recorded tropical-stage central pressure is 879 hPa on 27 Dec 2002, 12:00 UTC.

The full record spans 252 hours and approximately 3,930 kilometers along the recorded center positions. The last recorded position is 25.3°S, 168.4°E on 4 Jan 2003, 12:00 UTC. The final tropical-stage observation is earlier, on 1 Jan 2003, 06:00 UTC.

This summary is calculated from the NOAA IBTrACS archive. Category 5 describes the storm’s peak recorded wind intensity, not its intensity at landfall or the severity of impacts at any location. Landfall times, damage and casualties have not been independently reviewed for this page.

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

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