2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Second round
Justin Leonard posted a 3-under 69 and Vijay Singh carded a 4-under 68 to share a one stroke lead at 9 under midway through the 86th PGA Championship. Opening round leader Darren Clarke shot a 1-under 71 and is tied for third with Ernie Els and Briny Baird. Tiger Woods made two straight birdies on 16 and 17 to avoid missing his first cut in 128 events. Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who shot the low round of the day of 65, ended in a tie for 13th at 3-under.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Third round
Vijay Singh shot 69 to reach 12 under par as he tried to add a third major title to his 1998 PGA Championship and 2000 Masters. Justin Leonard carded 70 and was at 11 under. Leonard, who had a two-shot lead after making a 6-foot birdie on the 12th, bogeyed  Nos. 15 and 18 to keep him one behind. Briny Baird, the leader at one point, pulled his tee shot over the cliff left of the par-3 17th and wound up with a triple bogey to knocked him out of contention. He wound up with a 75 and was seven shots behind.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Final round
An exciting final round filled with missed opportunities led to a three-man playoff between Vijay Singh, Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard. Ernie Els missed the playoff by one stroke, thanks to a bogey at No. 18, and completed a disheartening season of near-misses in the majors. He finished fourth, tied with Chris Riley who also bogeyed No. 18. Els finished second in the Masters, second in the British Open and ninth in the U.S. Open.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Final round
Phil Mickelson also had a chance to get into the playoff, needing a birdie at the 72nd hole. Mickelson however took bogey and added a sixth-place finish to his memorable run at the majors in 2004. Mickelson won the Masters, took second in the U.S. Open and placed third in the British Open. K.J. Choi also had a chance to get into the playoff with a birdie, but also bogeyed the 72nd hole to finish two strokes behind.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Final round
Tiger Woods bogeyed two of the first four holes and wound up with a 73, his worst finish in the majors this year, and extended his streak to 10 majors without winning, which was the longest drought of his career at that time. He won the next major, his fourth green jacket at the Masters, in 2005.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Final round
Leonard, playing in the final group at the PGA Championship for the third time, took a two-shot lead with five holes to play with an 18-foot (5.5 m) birdie putt on 13. Leonard missed four putts inside 12 feet (3.7 m) down the stretch including a 12-foot par putt on No. 18 which would have given him his second major championship. DiMarco, the only player in the final nine groups to break par, had an 18-foot birdie putt to win on the 72nd hole that he left short. He also lost in a playoff in the next major, to Woods at Augusta, and ended his career without a major victory.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Playoff
After 72 holes, Singh, DiMarco and Leonard were tied on 8 under par, requiring a three-hole aggregate playoff, over the 10th, 17th, and 18th holes. Singh, who had yet to make a birdie during the day, got off to fast start with a birdie at the 10th hole, a short par-4 at 361 yards (330 m). Singh nearly drove the green and left a simple pitch to 6 feet (1.8 m), while DiMarco and Leonard both made par.


2004 PGA Championship, Round summaries, Playoff
Singh then laced a 3-iron to within 6 feet on the 236-yard (216 m) par-3 17th, but missed the putt and all three men made par. Leonard and DiMarco needed to gain a stroke on Singh on the par-4 18th and neither came close — DiMarco in a bunker, Leonard so far away that he used a wedge to chip on the green. Neither finished the hole, and Singh's par secured his second PGA Championship and third career major. His 76 on Sunday was the highest final-round score ever by a PGA champion.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
It looked ugly, but it's the prettiest one, I think.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
It was sad to see someone win it the way I did. The putter kind of fell asleep. I got new life when (Leonard) missed the putt on the last hole.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
This makes my year. I think this is the biggest accomplishment I've ever had in my whole career.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
I missed about four putts inside 10 feet on the back nine. It's pretty hard to win a golf tournament, much less a major, when you do that.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
I didn't win, and it's very disappointing. It's not like I haven't traveled down this road before. And hopefully, it will be the same result.


2004 PGA Championship, Quotes
It's been a great year for me in the majors. I feel like I'm really onto something good, and I'm looking forward to next year. I'm sorry we have such a long way to go.


2004 PGA Tour
The 2004 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 7. The season consisted of 48 official money events. Vijay Singh won the most tournaments, nine, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.


2004 PGA Tour, Tournament results
The following table shows all the official money events for the 2004 season. "Date" is the ending date of the tournament. The numbers in parentheses after the winners' names are the number of wins they had on the tour up to and including that event. Majors are shown in bold.


2004 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
This is a list of the 35 players who earned their 2005 PGA Tour card through Q School in 2004.


2004 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates, 2005 Results
*PGA Tour rookie in 2005T = Tied Green background indicates the player retained his PGA Tour card for 2006 (finished inside the top 125). Yellow background indicates the player did not retain his PGA Tour card for 2006, but retained conditional status (finished between 126-150). Red background indicates the player did not retain his PGA Tour card for 2006 (finished outside the top 150).


2004 PGA Tour of Australasia
The 2004 PGA Tour of Australasia was a series of men's professional golf events played mainly in Australia and New Zealand. The main tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia are played in the southern summer so they are split between the first and last months of the year. The tour's developmental series, known as the Von Nida Tour was played in the middle of the year.


2004 PGA Tour of Australasia, Main tournament results
The table below shows the 2004 schedule. It only lists official money events on the main tour.


2004 Pacific Curling Championships
The 2004 Pacific Curling Championships were held at the Euiam Ice Rink in Chuncheon, South Korea from November 20 to 25.


2004 Pacific Curling Championships
New Zealand's Sean Becker won the men's event over Australia's Hugh Millikin. By virtue of reaching the finals, both nations qualified for the 2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Victoria, British Columbia.


2004 Pacific Curling Championships
On the women's side, Japan's Yumie Funayama defeated China's Wang Bingyu in the final. This qualified both Japan and China for the 2005 World Women's Curling Championship in Paisley, Scotland.


2004 Pacific Handball Cup
The 2004 Men's Pacific Handball Cup was held in Sydney, Australia between June 10 and 13, 2004.


2004 Pacific Handball Cup
The competition participants host Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Islands and New Caledonia.


2004 Pacific Handball Cup
Hosts Australia were the winners and undefeated all tournament. New Caledonia in the final were runners up followed by Tahiti, New Zealand and Cook Islands.


2004 Pacific Islanders rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand
The 2004 Pacific Islander rugby union tour was a series of matches played by the Pacific Islanders in Australia and New Zealand during June and July 2004. The composite team was selected from the best players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, as well as Niue and the Cook Islands.


2004 Pacific Islanders rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand
The Pacific Islanders won the first two tour matches against Queensland and New South Wales, but lost the three Test matches played against Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.


2004 Pacific Islanders rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Matches, Australia
Pacific Islanders: 15.Norman Ligairi, 14.Lome Fa'atau, 13.Seilala Mapusua, 12.Seremaia Baikeinuku, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10.Tanner Vili, 9.Moses Rauluni, 8.Alifereti Doviverata, 7.Sisa Koyamaibole, 6.Sione Lauaki, 5.Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4.Inoke Afeaki (capt), 3.Taufa'ao Filise, 2. ' Aleki Lutui, 1.Soane Tonga'uiha,  – replacements: 17.Tevita Taumoepeau, 18.Leo Lafaiali'i, 19.Semo Sititi, 20.Steve So'oialo, 21.Seru Rabeni, 22.Sireli Bobo    –  No entry: 16.Joeli Lotawa


2004 Pacific Islanders rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Matches, New Zealand
Pacific Islanders: 15.Seru Rabeni, 14.Lome Fa'atau, 13.Brian Lima, 12.Seremaia Baikeinuku, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10.Tanner Vili, 9.Moses Rauluni, 8.Sisa Koyamaibole, 7.Alifereti Doviverata, 6.Sione Lauaki, 5.Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4.Inoke Afeaki (capt. ), 3.Taufa'ao Filise, 2. ' Aleki Lutui, 1.Soane Tonga'uiha,  – replacements: 17.Tevita Taumoepeau, 18.Filipo Levi, 19.Semo Sititi, 19.Semo Sititi, 21.Tane Tu'ipulotu, 22.Sireli Bobo    –  No entry: 16.Joeli Lotawa, 20.Steve So'oialo


2004 Pacific Islanders rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Matches, South Africa
Pacific Islanders: 15.Norman Ligairi, 14.Sireli Bobo, 13.Seilala Mapusua, 12.Seru Rabeni, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10.Tanner Vili, 9.Moses Rauluni, 8.Sisa Koyamaibole, 7.Alifereti Doviverata, 6.Sione Lauaki, 5.Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4.Inoke Afeaki (capt. ), 3.Tevita Taumoepeau, 2. ' Aleki Lutui, 1.Soane Tonga'uiha,  – replacements: 16.Joeli Lotawa, 17.Taufa'ao Filise, 18.Filipo Levi, 19.Tu Tamarua, 20.Steve So'oialo, 21.Seremaia Baikeinuku, 22.Brian Lima


2004 Pacific Life Open
The 2004 Pacific Life Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 31st edition of the Indian Wells Masters and was part of the Masters Series of the 2004 ATP Tour and of Tier I of the 2004 WTA Tour. Both the men's and women's events took place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California in the United States from March 10 through March 21, 2004.


2004 Pacific Life Open, Champions, Men's Doubles
Arnaud Clément /  Sébastien Grosjean defeated  Wayne Black /  Kevin Ullyett 6–3, 4–6, 7–5


2004 Pacific Life Open, Champions, Women's Doubles
Virginia Ruano Pascual /  Paola Suárez defeated  Svetlana Kuznetsova /  Elena Likhovtseva 6–1, 6–2


2004 Pacific Life Open – Men's Doubles
Wayne Ferreira and Yevgeny Kafelnikov were the defending champions but did not compete that year.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Men's Doubles
Arnaud Clément and Sébastien Grosjean won in the final 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 against Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Men's Singles
Roger Federer defeated Tim Henman in the final, 6–3, 6–3, to win the Men's Singles title at the 2004 Indian Wells Masters.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Men's Singles
Lleyton Hewitt was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the third round to Juan Ignacio Chela.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
All thirty-three seeds received a bye to the second round.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Doubles
Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond were the defending champions but they competed with different partners in 2004, Davenport with Corina Morariu and Raymond with Martina Navratilova.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Doubles
Davenport and Morariu lost in the semifinals to Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez, while Raymond and Navratilova lost to Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva in the second round.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Doubles
Pascual and Suárez went on to win in the final 6–1, 6–2 against Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
Champion seeds are indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which those seeds were eliminated.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Singles
Kim Clijsters was the defending champion, but withdrew before her third round match against Laura Granville due to a wrist injury which would ultimately sideline her for the remainder of the season.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Singles
Top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne won the title, defeating Lindsay Davenport in the final, 6–1, 6–4.


2004 Pacific Life Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
All seeded players received a bye for the first round.


2004 Pacific hurricane season
The 2004 Pacific hurricane season was notable in that no tropical cyclone of at least tropical storm intensity made landfall, an unusual occurrence. The season officially began on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the central Pacific; it officially ended in both basins on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period during each year when a majority of tropical cyclones form. Activity throughout the year fell slightly below the long-term average, with 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. The season was reflected by an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 71 units.


2004 Pacific hurricane season
Impact throughout the season was minimal and no deaths were recorded. In early August, the remnants of Hurricane Darby aided in localized heavy rainfall in Hawaii, causing minor street and stream flooding; coffee and macadamia trees were damaged as well. In early September, Hurricane Howard resulted in significant flooding across Baja California Peninsula that damaged agricultural land and 393 homes. Large swells also resulted in about 1,000 lifeguard rescues in California. In mid-September, Javier caused three fishermen to go missing and helped alleviate a multi-year drought across the Southwest United States. It produced record rainfall in the state of Wyoming. In mid- to late October, Tropical Storm Lester and Tropical Depression Sixteen-E caused localized flooding; the latter may have produced a tornado near Culiacán, Mexico.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Seasonal forecasts
In January 2004, the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) released their first prediction for tropical cyclone activity throughout the Northeast Pacific. Based on a Neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a total of 15 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes was forecast. These values were slightly altered in May to 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes, and again in August to 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Seasonal forecasts
On May 17, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its seasonal forecast for the 2004 central Pacific season, predicting four or five tropical cyclones to form or cross into the basin. Likewise to the SMN, near average activity was expected largely as a result of a Neutral ENSO. The organization issued its experimental eastern Pacific outlook on May 21, highlighting a 45 percent change of below-average activity, 45 percent chance of near-average activity, and only a 10 percent chance of above-average activity in the basin. A total of 13 to 15 named storms, 6 to 8 hurricanes, and 2 to 4 major hurricanes was forecast.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Seasonal summary
The season's first storm, Agatha, developed on May 22. No tropical cyclones developed during June, below the average of 2 named storms and 1 hurricane, and also the first time since 1969 that the month was cyclone-free. Activity remained below average throughout the remainder of the season, with a total of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes compared to the long-term average of 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. Overall wind energy output was reflected with an ACE index value of 71 units.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Seasonal summary
Although vertical wind shear was near average and ocean temperatures were slightly warmer than average south of Mexico, anomalously cool waters and drier than average air mass existed in the central portions of the eastern Pacific. Anomalously strong mid-level ridging extending from the Atlantic to northern Mexico steered a majority of the season's cyclones toward this inhospitable region and also acted to steer all the system of tropical storm intensity or stronger away from land.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Agatha
A nearly stationary trough stretched from the eastern Pacific into the eastern Caribbean Sea during mid-May. An ill-defined tropical wave crossed Central America on May 17 and interacted with the trough, eventually leading to the formation of a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on May 22. The newly formed cyclone moved northwest parallel to the coastline of Mexico while steadily organizing in a low wind shear regime, intensifying into Tropical Storm Agatha by 12:00 UTC that day and attaining peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) twelve hours later. Increasingly cool ocean temperatures and a drier air mass caused Agatha to weaken quickly thereafter, and it degenerated into a remnant low by 12:00 UTC on May 24. The post-tropical cyclone drifted aimlessly before dissipating well south of the Baja California Peninsula on May 26.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression Two-E
A westward-moving tropical wave from Africa crossed Central America into the eastern Pacific in late June, coalescing into a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on July 2 well southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Steered westward by low-level flow, the depression failed to organize amid wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures, instead degenerating into a remnant low at 00:00 UTC on July 4. The post-tropical cyclone dissipated a day later.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression One-C
An organized region of convection within the Intertropical Convergence Zone developed into a tropical depression at 03:00 UTC on July 5 while located roughly 700 mi (1,125 km) south-southeast of Johnston Atoll, becoming the farthest-south-forming central Pacific tropical cyclone since Tropical Storm Hali (1992). Steered westward, the depression failed to intensify due to its quick forward motion despite a seemingly favorable environment, and it quickly dissipated at 00:00 UTC on July 6.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Blas
A tropical wave crossed Central America on July 8, developing into a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on July 12 while located about 335 mi (540 km) southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico; six hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Blas. Steered swiftly northwestward around a mid-level ridge over the southwestern United States, the cyclone steadily intensified and reached peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) early on July 13 as a large and robust convective canopy became evident.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Blas
Blas began a steady weakening trend as it tracked over increasingly cool sea surface temperatures, weakening to a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on July 14 and degenerating into a large remnant low twelve hours later. The post-tropical cyclone decelerated and curved northeastward, dissipating well west of central Baja California early on July 19.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Celia
A vigorous tropical wave entered the East Pacific on July 13, acquiring sufficient organization to be declared a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on July 19 while located about 620 mi (1,000 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Directed west-northwest around a subtropical ridge, the cyclone steadily intensified amongst a favorable environment, becoming Tropical Storm Celia at 12:00 UTC that same day and further strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, the season's first, at 00:00 UTC on July 22.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Celia
After attaining peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) six hours later, an increasingly unfavorable environment began to hinder the system. Celia weakened to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC on July 22 and eventually degenerated into a remnant low at 00:00 UTC on July 26. The post-tropical cyclone dissipated about 1,740 mi (2,800 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula later that morning.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Darby
A tropical depression formed at 12:00 UTC on July 26 while positioned about 760 mi (1,225 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from a tropical wave that entered the eastern Pacific nearly a week prior. The system quickly intensified as it curved west-northwest around a subtropical ridge, becoming Tropical Storm Darby at 00:00 UTC on July 27 and strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane early the next day. After attaining its peak as the season's first major hurricane with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures begin to weaken the cyclone. It weakened to a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC on July 30 and further to a tropical depression a day later as it entered the jurisdiction of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. At 12:00 UTC on August 1, Darby dissipated about 850 mi (1,370 km) east of the Hawaiian Islands.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Darby
Although Darby produced no impacts to land as a tropical cyclone, its remnant moisture field combined with an upper-level trough over Hawaii to produce an unstable atmosphere. General rainfall amounts of 2–5 in (51–127 mm) were recorded across the Big Island and Oahu, with a localized peak of 9.04 in (230 mm) in Kaneohe; this led to flooding and several road closures. Minor stream flooding was observed on the southeast flank of Mount Haleakalā. A rainfall total of 3.06 in (78 mm) was recorded at the Honolulu International Airport, contributing to the wettest August on record in the city. Some coffee and macadamia nut trees were damaged.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression Six-E
Operationally, an area of disturbed weather was thought to have coalesced into a tropical depression at 09:00 UTC on July 29 while located well southwest of the Baja California Peninsula. The depression was only expected to intensify slightly before entering cooler waters and interacting with outflow from nearby Hurricane Darby. By late that evening, however, its presentation on satellite imagery more resembled a trough, and the NHC discontinued advisories. In post-season analysis, the organization determined that the depression did not form until 06:00 UTC on August 1 and lasted but 24 hours.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Estelle
A tropical wave interacted with a disturbance embedded in the ITCZ in mid-August, leading to the designation of a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on August 19 while located 1,440 mi (2,315 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. The cyclone moved west-northwest following formation, steered around a subtropical ridge. It intensified into Tropical Storm Estelle at 06:00 UTC on August 20 and attained peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) at 12:00 UTC the next morning as it crossed into the central Pacific. Thereafter, increasing wind shear caused Estelle to a steady weakening trend.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Estelle
At 00:00 UTC on August 23, the cyclone decelerated to a tropical depression while turning west-southwest, and at 18:00 UTC the following day, it further degenerated into a remnant low. The post-tropical cyclone continued on a west-southwest trajectory prior to dissipating south-southeast of the Big Island at 00:00 UTC on August 26.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Frank
A tropical wave, the remnants of Tropical Storm Earl in the Atlantic, crossed into the eastern Pacific in mid-August and steadily organized to become a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on August 23 well south of the coastline of Mexico. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Frank six hours later as banding features and central convection increased. Steered northwest within a favorable environment, the cyclone rapidly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane by 18:00 UTC and ultimately attained peak winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) twelve hours later. Frank steadily weakened thereafter as it entered cooler ocean temperatures, degenerating into a remnant low at 06:00 UTC on August 26. The remnant low drifted southwest before diffusing into a trough well south of the Baja California Peninsula the following day.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression Nine-E
A tropical wave crossed Central America on August 15, only slowing organizing into a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on August 23 while located about 920 mi (1,480 km) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Steered north-northwest and eventually west, the cyclone failed to intensify further into a tropical storm amid cool sea surface temperatures and southerly wind shear, and it instead degenerated into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC on August 26. The post-tropical cyclone turned west-southwest before dissipating about 1,095 mi (1,760 km) east of Hilo, Hawaii early on August 28.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Georgette
A westward-moving tropical wave entered the eastern Pacific in late August, acquiring sufficient organization to be declared a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on August 26 about 605 miles (975 km) south-southeast of the Baja California Peninsula. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Georgette six hours later as its satellite presentation improved, and it reached peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) at 12:00 UTC on August 27. Increasingly hostile upper-level winds began to impinge on the west-northwest-moving tropical cyclone shortly thereafter, ultimately causing it to degenerate into a remnant low by 18:00 UTC on August 30. The post-tropical cyclone continued its forward course until dissipating early on September 3.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Howard
A westward-moving tropical wave from Africa entered the eastern Pacific in late August, organizing into a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on August 30 south of the coastline of Mexico. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Howard twelve hours later and further developed into a hurricane at 06:00 UTC on September 1.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Howard
On its northwest track, a favorable environment regime prompted the cyclone to begin a period of rapid intensification, and it attained its peak as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) at 12:00 UTC on September 2. Cooler ocean temperatures led to a steady weakening trend thereafter, and Howard degenerated into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC on September 5. The low turned southwest before dissipating over open waters on September 10.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Howard
Although the storm remained offshore, the outer bands of the storm produced significant flooding across the Baja California peninsula, which damaged agricultural land and at least 393 homes. Swells reached 18 ft (5.4 m) along the Baja California coastline and 12 ft (3.7 m) along the California coastline; about 1,000 lifeguard rescues took place in California due to the waves. Moisture from the storm enhanced rainfall in parts of Arizona, leading to minor accumulations.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Isis
A tropical wave, possibly responsible for the formation of Hurricane Frances in the Atlantic, entered the eastern Pacific in early September, gaining sufficient organization to be declared a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC on September 8 about 530 miles (855 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The system tracked west, intensifying into Tropical Storm Isis twelve hours after being designated, but weakening back to a tropical depression early on September 10, amid persistent wind shear.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Isis
Upper-level winds decreased by September 12, allowing Isis to regain tropical storm intensity by 00:00 UTC, and eventually peak as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), at 12:00 UTC on September 15. After conducting a clockwise loop, the hurricane entered cooler waters and began to weaken; it degenerated into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC on the next day. The low drifted southwest and then west, before dissipating well east of Hawaii on September 21.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Javier
A tropical wave entered the eastern Pacific in early September, organizing into a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on September 10 south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Under light shear, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Javier at 12:00 UTC the next morning and into a hurricane at 18:00 UTC on September 12.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Javier
The cyclone soon began a period of rapid intensification as it alternated on a west-northwest to northwest course, ultimately peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) at 00:00 UTC on September 14 as a distinct pinhole eye became evident on satellite imagery. Cooler waters, strong southwesterly shear, and an eyewall replacement cycle all weakened Javier thereafter; it fell to tropical depression intensity early on September 19 before crossing Baja California and degenerated into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC that day over the Gulf of California. The low crossed the state of Sonora before dissipating over mountainous terrain on September 20.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Javier
As a tropical cyclone, Javier produce moderate rainfall peaking at 3.14 in (80 mm) in Bacanuchi, Mexico. Three fishermen went missing offshore the coastline due to high surf. As a post-tropical cyclone, the storm's remnant moisture overspread the Southwest United States, alleviating a multi-year drought. Accumulations peaked at 7 in (178 mm) in Walnut Creek, Arizona, with lighter totals across the Four Corners and upper Midwest. The remnants of Javier produced 2 in (51 mm) of rain in Wyoming, cementing its status as the wettest tropical cyclone in the reliable record there.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Kay
An area of disturbed weather developed within the ITCZ well southwest of mainland Mexico, coalescing into a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on October 4. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Kay twelve hours later, and it attained peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) at 12:00 UTC the next morning as suggested by satellite intensity estimates. Moderate northerly shear caused core convection to decrease as the system moved west-northwest, resulting in Kay degenerating into a remnant low at 12:00 UTC on October 6 over open ocean. The low-level swirl curved southwestward and dissipated the next day.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Lester
An area of disturbed weather south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec organized into a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on October 11. Steered northwest to west-northwest by a mid-level ridge to its north and a broad cyclonic circulation to its southwest, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Lester at 18:00 UTC the next day. The system was initially forecast to become a hurricane amid light shear; however, interaction with the coastline of Mexico and the nearby cyclonic circulation instead caused Lester to weaken. Observations from a reconnaissance aircraft indicated the storm degenerated into a trough at 18:00 UTC on October 13.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Lester
As the cyclone paralleled the coastline of Mexico, a tropical storm warning was hoisted from Punta Maldonado to Lázaro Cárdenas. Rainfall accumulations of 3–5 in (76–127 mm) were observed across Oaxaca and Guerrero, leading to localized flooding.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression Sixteen-E
A tropical wave entered the eastern Pacific in mid-October, interacting with two previous tropical waves that resulted in a large area of disturbed weather. The system organized into a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on October 25 about 315 miles (505 km) south-southeast of the Baja California Peninsula. Initially, the cyclone was characterized by a large area of deep convection enhanced from an upper-level trough. This same trough soon imparted strong wind shear, preventing intensification. The depression moved into Sinaloa early that same day and dissipated over the Sierra Madre Occidental at 18:00 UTC on October 26.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Depression Sixteen-E
The depression produced locally heavy rainfall across western Mexico, resulting in some localized flooding. Culiacán International Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 80 mph (129 km/h), suggesting a tornado may have occurred nearby. The remnant mid-level circulation associated with the cyclone interacted with a frontal system to produce strong thunderstorms across the southern Great Plains.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Systems, Other systems
On August 14, the Japan Meteorological Agency had briefly stated that Tropical Storm Malakas had exited the West Pacific basin and entered the Central Pacific basin, as a weakening tropical depression.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in East Pacific in 2004. This is the same list used in the 1998 season. No names were retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2005, therefore this list was re-used in the 2010 season.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Storm names
For storms that form in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, encompassing the area between 140 degrees west and the International Date Line, all names are used in a series of four rotating lists. The next four names that were slated for use in 2004 are shown below, however none of them were used.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Storm names, Retirement
Although Isis did not result in significant damage or casualties (it was not retired during the WMO's annual meeting in 2005), the organization determined in 2015 that it would retire the name, deeming its usage inappropriate in light of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (commonly referred to as ISIS). The name was not used in 2010, making the 2004 storm the last incarnation of the name. The name was replaced by Ivette for the 2016 Pacific hurricane season.


2004 Pacific hurricane season, Season effects
This is a table of all the storms that have formed in the 2004 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s), denoted in parentheses, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2004 USD.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
The 2004 Pacific typhoon season was a extremely active season since 1997, which featured 29 named storms, nineteen typhoons, and six super typhoons. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the western Pacific Ocean. The season ran throughout 2004, though most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October. The season's first named storm and also the first typhoon, Sudal, developed on April 4, later was reached typhoon status two days later, and became the first super typhoon of the year three days later. The season's last named storm, Noru, dissipated on December 21.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
Activity of the season was extremely high, the impacts of the typhoons were damaging and deadly, including four consecutive typhoons that struck them in the Philippines. In August, Typhoon Rananim struck Taiwan and China causing widespread damage, killing 169 people and with an estimated $2.44 billion (USD 2004) in damage. Typhoon Aere also caused heavy damage in China after Rananim killing 107 people there with minimal damage. Typhoon Songda was the costliest typhoon of the season to hit Japan, with damage estimated at $9.3 billion (USD 2004) and 28 people killed.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
In October, Typhoon Tokage hit Japan as a tropical storm, causing a total of 95 deaths and damage estimated at $2.3 billion (2004 USD). Tropical Depression Winnie struck the Philippines killing a total of 1,593 people, making Winnie the deadliest storm of the season since Tropical Storm Thelma in 1991. The seasonal activity from November onwards is decreasing, including two typhoons, Muifa strikes the Philippines after Winnie, killing 68 people and subsequently bringing heavy rains to Thailand killing 40 people.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
The fourth and last consecutive typhoon to hit the Philippines was Nanmadol which made landfall as an Category 4 typhoon in that country, killing a total of 77 people. The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of this season amounted to 60% above the normal level for Pacific typhoon seasons, at 480.6. This makes as the third-most active season in recorded history, only after 1997 and 1992.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator between 100°E and 180th meridian. Within the northwestern Pacific Ocean, there are two separate agencies that assign names to tropical cyclones, which can often result in a cyclone having two names.


2004 Pacific typhoon season
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) names a tropical cyclone should it be judged to have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of at least 65 km/h (40 mph) anywhere in the basin, whilst the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N and 25°N, regardless of whether or not a tropical cyclone has already been given a name by the JMA. Tropical depressions that are monitored by the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are given a number with a "W" suffix.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 01W (Ambo)
The first tropical storm of the 2004 Pacific typhoon season developed on February 10 west of Chuuk. It tracked to the west, organizing slowly due to persistent vertical wind shear. On February 13 and 14, the depression executed a clockwise loop. When the storm turned to the southwest, the wind shear overcame it, and the cyclone dissipated on February 19. The remnants of Tropical Depression Ambo dissipated, affecting Luzon by bringing flash floods and heavy rainfall on February 20 until February 22.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 02W (Butchoy)
The near-equatorial trough spawned a tropical disturbance east of the Philippines late on March 13. It rapidly moved northwest as it became a tropical depression in the afternoon hours of the next day. Due to warm waters and moderate convection, it rapidly intensified, with a brief turn to the southwest. On March 17, it reached peak intensity as a tropical storm, with the PAGASA naming it as Butchoy. The system rapidly weakened on March 19, just before the storm was about to hit the Philippines. A weak trough brought it northward, where dry air and vertical shear caused it to dissipate on March 23.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Sudal (Cosme)
On April 5, Tropical Depression 03W began its life between Chuuk and Pohnpei. As it drifted to the northwest, it strengthened into a tropical storm. Sudal turned to the west, and steadily intensified to become a typhoon on April 6. On the April 9, with maximum sustained winds of 115 kn/130 mph, Typhoon Sudal hit the island of Yap. After ravaging the island, Sudal reached a peak of 130 kn/150 mph winds. The typhoon turned to the northeast and became extratropical early on April 16.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Sudal (Cosme)
Yap experienced catastrophic damage, with 90% of buildings destroyed, 1,500 left homeless, and no fatality. Sudal is a Korean word meaning otter.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nida (Dindo)
A monsoon trough spawned Tropical Depression 04W east of the Philippines on May 13. The depression quickly strengthened, reaching tropical storm intensity on May 14 and typhoon status just six hours later. On May 15 and 16 while moving northwest towards the Philippine coast, Nida rapidly intensified to a 140 kn/160 mph super typhoon, and crossed the eastern Philippines shortly thereafter. Nida weakened slightly over the islands, and began to move to the north and northeast in response to a break in the subtropical ridge. It became extratropical on May 21 east of Japan, after causing 31 deaths and about $1.3 million in damage. Nida is a Thai female name.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nida (Dindo)
In the Philippines, evacuation centers were opened to accommodate 2,986 people. The typhoon approach canceled ferry operations stranding 15,057 passengers. In Taiwan, forecasters at the Central Weather Bureau issued a typhoon warning as forecast models predicted a high probability of the typhoon hitting Taiwan.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 05W
A small tropical disturbance rapidly formed, moving southwest on May 12. The small system rapidly built up on May 13. The next day, the JTWC classified it as Tropical Depression 05W. 05W moved west, affecting Vietnam and reached peak intensity as a tropical storm on May 15 and 16. With two other systems in the Western Pacific, Typhoon Nida and Tropical Storm Omais, 05W turned eastwards, weakening on May 17.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 05W
Dissipating on May 18, and due to the strong pull of the outflow of Typhoon Nida at peak intensity, the remnants of 05W rapidly moved and was located about east of Philippines and was absorbed by a trough on May 20. The circulation fully dissipated on May 25 as it was absorbed by a monsoonal trough.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Omais (Enteng)
A tropical disturbance southwest of Chuuk organized into a tropical depression on May 16, one of 3 active tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific at the time. The depression developed quickly, reaching tropical storm status later that day and reaching a peak of 60 kn/70 mph winds three days later on May 19. A weakening ridge brought Omais northward, where it became extratropical on May 22.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Omais (Enteng)
Operationally, Omais was classified as a typhoon, but in post-analysis, it was dropped to a tropical storm. Omais is a Palauan word meaning 'wandering around'.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Conson (Frank)
In the South China Sea, a stationary area of disturbed weather developed into Tropical Depression 07W on June 4. It tracked eastward then northeastward, becoming a tropical storm on June 5 and a typhoon on June 7. Conson passed between Luzon and Taiwan, and peaked with 100 kn/115 mph winds on June 9. Conson weakened as it continued northeastward, and became extratropical on June 11 near Japan without causing any reported damage. Conson is an area in Vietnam containing many historical monuments.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Chanthu (Gener)
Originating from an area of low pressure on June 5, 2004, Chanthu was first declared a tropical depression near southern Leyte Island, in the Philippines, on June 7. Tracking west-northwestward, the depression intensified into a tropical storm over the central Philippines before entering the South China Sea. Once over the warm waters of the sea, the system quickly intensified, attaining its peak 10-minute winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) and 1-minute winds of 140 km/h (85 mph). On June 12, the storm made landfall in Vietnam before quickly weakening over land. By June 13, the system had weakened to a tropical depression and dissipated two days later.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Chanthu (Gener)
In Vietnam, Chanthu wrought substantial damage and killed 38 people. Damage from the storm was estimated at 125 billion Vietnam dong (US$7.9 million), mostly from agricultural losses. The remnants of Chanthu also brought heavy rains to Cambodia, estimated to have exceeded 400 mm (16 in).


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Dianmu (Helen)
Tropical Depression 09W, which developed from the monsoon trough on June 13, headed north in the open Western Pacific. On the June 15 and 16, Dianmu rapidly intensified from a 70 kn/80 mph typhoon to a 155 kn/180 mph super typhoon, one of nine typhoons since 1990 to reach that intensity. It lost some organization on June 18, but re-strengthened on June 19 to a super typhoon while south of Okinawa. Some dry air weakened Dianmu as it continued its northward movement, and hit southern Japan as a 55 kn/65 mph tropical storm on June 21. Dianmu became extratropical that night after causing 3 deaths. Dianmu is the name of the goddess of thunder and lightning in Chinese folklore.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Mindulle (Igme)
The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression on June 23 near Guam. It tracked westward, becoming a tropical storm that night but slowly strengthening as it continued westward due to vertical wind shear. When the shear abated, Mindulle quickly intensified, reaching typhoon strength on June 27 and peaking at 125 kn/145 mph winds on June 28. Land interaction with Luzon to its south weakened Mindulle, and the typhoon weakened as it turned northward. On July 1, Mindulle hit eastern Taiwan, and after accelerating to the northeast became extratropical near South Korea on July 4.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Mindulle (Igme)
Mindulle caused 56 deaths, with $833 million in damage in its path (2004 USD). Mindulle is the Korean word for the dandelion.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Tingting
Tropical Depression 11W, which developed from the monsoon trough on June 25, steadily strengthened as it tracked to the northwest, and reached tropical storm status on June 26. Tingting passed Saipan on June 27, and reached typhoon status early on June 28. After maximum sustained winds peaked at 80 kn/90 mph, the typhoon turned to the northeast, where it became extratropical on July 3 after causing 3 deaths on Saipan. Tingting is a pet name for young girls in Chinese.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Kompasu (Julian)
A non-tropical system formed south of an upper-level vortex on July 3. It moved west until it weakened due to an intensifying high-pressure area north of it on July 8. The next day, it regenerated and strengthened into a tropical disturbance. Late on July 11, it entered in a place of favorable environments until it became a Tropical Depression 12W early on July 12. Area of thunderstorms and convection organized into Tropical Depression 12W on July 13. Under high vertical shear and with a very small circulation, it was not expected to strengthen further.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Kompasu (Julian)
However, as it tracked erratically westward, it intensified, peaking with 40 kn/50 mph winds on July 14. Kompasu turned northward, hit the eastern part of Hong Kong directly as a minimal tropical storm, and dissipated on July 16. Kompasu is the Japanese word for compass, and the name of the constellation Circinus.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Namtheun
Tropical Storm Namtheun, which formed on July 24, rapidly intensified on July 26 to a 115 kn/135 mph typhoon. Dry air approached the system from the south, and it weakened as it tracked northwest towards Japan. On July 31, Namtheun struck southwest Japan as a 55 kn/65 mph tropical storm, and became extratropical in the Sea of Japan on August 1. The storm caused no deaths or damage, with only 6 injuries. Namtheun is the name of a river in Laos.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Malou
A low-pressure area formed from the outflow of Typhoon Namtheun on July 29. An area of convection under moderate to high vertical wind shear developed into a tropical depression southeast of Japan on August 4. It became a minimal tropical storm before hitting central Japan on the night of August 4. Malou turned to the northeast and became extratropical in the Sea of Japan on August 5. Malou is the Chinese name for the mineral agate.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meranti
The first of nine named storms to develop during August, Meranti formed from an area of low pressure on August 3 and gradually strengthened. On August 5, the storm underwent a brief period of rapid intensification, attaining its peak intensity later day. According to the JMA, the storm attained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph) while the JTWC reported that the storm attained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). The following day, the typhoon quickly weakened to a tropical storm due to unfavorable conditions. By August 9, the system completed an extratropical transition; the remnants of the storm persisted until August 13, at which time it was absorbed by a large, non-tropical low.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Rananim (Karen)
On August 5, the JTWC began monitoring a persistent area of convection to the north-northwest of Guam; accompanied by a low-pressure system, the disturbance developed into a tropical depression the following day. Tracking in a general north-northwest direction, the depression struggled to maintain convection over its center due to wind shear. By August 10, the system intensified into a typhoon, as its outflow became better defined. The following day, a ragged eye began to develop, fueling further strengthening.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Rananim (Karen)
Rananim reached its peak intensity on August 11 with winds of 150 km/h (90 mph); the JTWC estimated the system to be slightly stronger, peaking with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). As the storm neared landfall, it began to weaken eventually crossing the Chinese coastline near Wenling, Zhejiang Province with winds of 110 km/h (70 mph). Rapid weakening ensued as the system moved inland; Rananim eventually dissipated near central China on August 15.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Rananim (Karen)
Throughout eastern China, Rananim produced torrential rainfall, peaking at 703.5 mm (27.70 in) in Zhejiang, marking a new daily record rainfall in the province. Wind gusts were recorded up to a local record of 211 km/h (131 mph). A total of 188 people were killed by the storm, mostly due to collapsed homes and landslides; roughly 1,800 were injured and over 18 million were affected by Rananim. Economic losses in China amounted to about $2.2 billion (USD). Due to the severity of damage wrought by the storm, the name Rananim was retired the following year.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Malakas
A reverse-oriented monsoon trough extended from the Philippine Sea northeastward for hundreds of miles spawned a disturbed area around 22N/150E late on August 8. A weak tropical depression formed out of this area late on August 9. Deep convection was in a cycling mode, and satellite imagery initially indicated that the system was subtropical in nature. The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Malakas as it took on a more tropical appearance about 670 miles west-northwest of Wake Island, and it moved northeastward along the northern periphery of the subtropical ridge. By August 12, satellite imagery indicated that Malakas was becoming extratropical. JMA declared the system extratropical on the August 14, placing the weak 25 kn/30 mph low approximately 575 miles north-northwest of Midway Island. Malakas is a Filipino word meaning 'strong' or 'powerful'.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Megi (Lawin)
Typhoon Megi was the fourth of eight significant tropical cyclones to form during August. Megi was initially spotted 260 miles west of Guam on August 11, slowly developing into Tropical Depression 18W on the August 14, strengthening into a tropical storm on the August 16, and ultimately into a typhoon on the August 18 to the southwest of Japan. Megi moved northwest through the Ryūkyū islands before recurving northeastward towards South Korea and Japan. Megi sped across northern Honshū before completing its transition into a nontropical low off the east coast of Hokkaidō. The resultant ocean cyclone moved rapidly eastward, reaching a point near 42N/174E late on the August 22.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Megi (Lawin)
Despite peaking at only minimal typhoon intensity, Megi had a significant impact on both Japan and South Korea. In Japan, the highest storm total rainfall noted was 610 mm at Tomisato between August 17 and 21, with 398 mm falling in a 24‑hour period. The highest wind gust was 109 mph/48.7 m/s at Izuhara, Nagasaki early on the August 19. The lowest measured pressure was 974.1 mbar at Izuhara. In South Korea, the heaviest 24‑hour rain total was 332.5 mm at Wando between late on the August 17 and 18.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Megi (Lawin)
News reports indicated that five people were reported dead or missing after Typhoon Megi in South Korea. The number left homeless rose to more than 2400. Typhoon Megi left at least ten dead in Japan. Megi's landfall on northern Japan resulted in large blackouts as 130,000 homes were left in the dark. A group of about 165 primary school students were stranded by a Megi-induced landslide in western Japan, though were successfully rescued by helicopter. Megi is the Korean word for the catfish.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Chaba
Chaba formed on August 18 in the open Western Pacific. It moved westward, strengthening into a tropical storm on August 19 and a typhoon on August 20. Chaba turned to the northwest, and rapidly intensified to a 155 kn/180 mph super typhoon on the August 22 with an estimated minimum central pressure of 910 mbar, becoming the strongest typhoon of the year. After fluctuating between 100 kn/115 mph and super typhoon status for several days, Chaba weakened as it turned to the north, and hit the southwestern Japanese island of Honshū. It accelerated to the northeast, and became extratropical on August 31. The storm killed seven people and caused a lot of damage.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Aere (Marce)
Aere is the Marshallese word for 'storm'. A tropical disturbance developed into a tropical depression on the 19th about 400 miles west of Guam, and moved northwest at 10 kn/12 mph along the southwestern periphery of a mid-level steering ridge. The system reached tropical storm status on the 20th, gaining the name Aere. Aere subsequently crossed into the Philippine's area of responsibility and was assigned the name Marce. Aere was upgraded to typhoon intensity on the 21st, and its strength leveled off during the 21st and 22nd.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Aere (Marce)
On the 23rd, Typhoon Aere was downgraded to a tropical storm briefly due to vertical wind shear while located 200 miles south of Naha, Okinawa. Aere quickly regained typhoon strength and maintained intensity for the rest of the 23rd and developed a 50-mile wide eye. Aere reached its peak intensity of 85 kn/100 mph late on the 24th, when the pressure lowered to 955 mb. As the storm crossed the northern tip of Taiwan it began to weaken. Aere turned southwestward later that day, a trajectory that carried the storm past Xiamen early on the 26th and close to Shantou later that day before weakening into a tropical storm. The remnants of Typhoon Aere remained a tropical depression until the 31st.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Aere (Marce)
Early on the 25th, six villages located in Gaoqiao Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, were struck by a tornado triggered by Typhoon Aere. The tornado did cause some economic losses, but no casualties were reported. Preliminary statistics indicated that the typhoon had caused 2.485 billion yuan of direct economic losses and was responsible for two deaths in Fujian Province. Aere also affected 3,479,900 residents in 421 towns of 48 counties of 6 cities in Fujian, where three cities were flooded, 10,100 houses were toppled, 236 embankments and thousands of water conservancy facilities were damaged.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Aere (Marce)
Thirty-four people were killed in Taiwan as a result of the storm, and fifteen died as a mudslide buried a remote mountain village in the north of the island. Agricultural losses were estimated at 7.7 million New Taiwan dollars ($313,000 USD). Forty-three deaths in the Philippines were caused by heavy rains induced by the typhoon. Eight provinces in northern and central Luzon were most severely affected with 70% of the provinces under water at one point.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 21W
An area of convection with a possible weak low-level circulation center had developed approximately 1,125 km (700 mi) east-southeast of Guam on August 24, and was moving slowly towards the west-northwest. It was designated as a tropical depression on August 26 by the JMA. Shortly after, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Depression 21W. The depression gradually intensified and was upgraded to Tropical Storm 21W by the JTWC early on August 27 when located about 590 km (365 mi) east of Guam; however, in post-season analysis, the JTWC declassified 21W as a tropical depression.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression 21W
The depression reached its peak intensity at 0000 UTC on August 27 with winds of 55 km/h (35 mph) and a minimum pressure of 1000 hPa (mbar). By later that day, the center had become fully exposed with the deep convection being displaced westward over Guam, due to strong outflow from Typhoon Chaba to its north. The storm was downgraded back to depression status by JTWC around local midnight when centered approximately 395 km (245 mi) east-northeast of Guam, though it was never recognized as a tropical storm by the JMA. The weakening system dissipated on the 31st when the weak low was located approximately 1,210 km (750 mi) west of Saipan. No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from short-lived tropical cyclone.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Songda (Nina)
On August 26, a new area low-pressure system developed roughly 390 km (240 mi) northeast of Kwajalein. Shortly thereafter, the JMA began monitoring the system as a tropical depression. Light wind shear and favorable diffluence allowed the system to strengthen, prompting the JTWC to issue their first advisory on Tropical Depression 22W the next day. By the morning of August 28, both agencies had upgraded the system to a tropical storm, with the JMA assigning it the name Songda, a branch of the Red River in northern Vietnam. By August 30, the system had intensified into a minimal typhoon. By the following day, the storm had undergone rapid intensification to attain its peak ten-minute sustained and one-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) and 230 km/h (145 mph) according to the JMA and JTWC respectively.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Songda (Nina)
Over the following days, the powerful storm fluctuated in intensity, during which time it passed through the Northern Mariana Islands. On September 3, the storm briefly entered PAGASA's area of responsibility and was given the local name Nina. Early on September 5, Songda brushed the northern coast of Okinawa Island, where a barometric pressure of 925 mbar (hPa; 27.32 inHg) was recorded. Curving towards the northeast, the storm gradually weakened and made landfall near Nagasaki, Japan as a strong typhoon.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Songda (Nina)
Accelerating towards the northeast, the system quickly weakened to a tropical storm by the evening on September 7 before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone shortly thereafter. The remnants of Songda were monitored by the JMA until late on September 10, at which time they crossed the International Date Line near the Aleutian Islands.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Songda (Nina)
Throughout Songda's track, several islands were affected; Enewetak Atoll recorded tropical storm-force winds with gusts up to 120 km/h (75 mph) during the storm's passage. In the Mariana Islands, Agrihan sustained widespread damage, with all crops and structures considered a total loss, leaving $500,000 in monetary losses. Throughout Japan, Songda caused catastrophic damage and significant loss of life, mainly due to rain-related events. The heaviest rains fell in Miyazaki Prefecture, where a station measured 905 mm (35.6 in) during Songda's passage. Losses from the storm reached $9 billion, ranking it as the costliest storm to ever strike the country and one of the most destructive in the western Pacific. Forty-one people were killed by the storm, mainly in Kyūshū.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Sarika
The name Sarika is originally from a songbird found in Cambodia. JMA classified a tropical depression early on September 4. By the 5th, a typhoon warning was issued for the island of Agrihan. Moving west-northwest along the southern periphery of the subtropical ridge, Tropical Depression 23W was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sarika that day. An upper-level low located to the southeast was providing an efficient eastern outflow channel in addition to the decent equatorial outflow.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Sarika
Rapid intensification ensued for a while with the maximum sustained winds rising to 60 kn/70 mph late on the 5th, which was the peak intensity for Sarika. By the 6th, Tropical Storm Sarika passed 220 miles north of Saipan. Shortly afterward, the system's center made its closest approach to Agrihan, tracking 10 miles south of that island. Near-typhoon conditions occurred on both Agrihan and Pagan while tropical storm-force winds were experienced on Alamagan.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Sarika
At its peak Sarika, possessed a very compact wind field with gales extending no further than 90 miles from the center while the radius of strongest winds never exceeded 15 miles. By the 6th, Sarika had turned westward 100 miles west of Agrihan. Early on the 7th, Sarika began to weaken as it entered a hostile shearing environment associated with Typhoon Songda's outflow. Sarika subsequently turned to the north-northwest at 9 mph/8 kn about 820 miles south of Tokyo, Japan while becoming fully exposed. It slowed as it turned northward late on the 7th. The system remained a tropical storm until the 8th when Sarika weakened back into a depression.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel)
Haima is the Chinese word for the sea horse. Early on September 11, an area of thunderstorms was observed 150 nmi southwest of Taipei, Taiwan. Later that day, the newly formed tropical depression saw its thunderstorms track across Taiwan, leaving the circulation center behind east of the mountainous isle as it took on a subtropical appearance. The next day, it had strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Haima by the JMA and Ofel by the PAGASA. The JTWC considered the system a tropical depression or subtropical storm, but never a tropical storm.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel)
The center track just east of Taiwan on September 12, towards the southeast coast of China. Haima made landfall south of Shanghai on September 13 before turning to the northwest. Haima soon become a completely sheared system due to interaction with the upper-level winds over a frontal zone located to its west, and was declared dissipated the next day.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel)
In China, the lowest reported pressure was 998 mb in Yongqiang Town on the 13th and the highest 24‑hour rainfall recorded was 250.8 mm in Fuzhou City between September 9 and 10, which set a new September daily rainfall record for the station. In Taiwan, daily rainfall ranged as high as 393 mm in Taipei county, and 611.5 mm in Taipei City. The highest wind gust reported was 80 mph/35.9 m/s at Lanyu on the 11th.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel)
The storm damaged 78 square kilometres of farmland in Zhejiang Province, China, where direct economic losses were estimated to have been over 53 million yuan. Torrential rains (Sep 7–10), including those in the monsoonal flow around the pre-Haima depression had caused 54.6 million yuan of direct economic losses in Pingtan County and Changle City. In Japan, rainfall and winds were relatively light. In South Korea, the highest 24‑hour rainfall report noted was 104.5 mm at Wando between the 11th and 12th.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel)
This is the first storm that JTWC classified it as subtropical, with a designation.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression Pablo
This system was considered a tropical depression by JMA, PAGASA, the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan and the Thai Meteorological Department with PAGASA assigning the name Pablo. JTWC released no warnings, but issued a pair of Tropical Cyclone Formation Alerts (TCFA) early on September 17 and 18. Tropical Depression Pablo formed deep in the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao, moved westward across that island, thence turning northwestward and emerging into the South China Sea near the Calamian group. After crossing the Philippine Archipelago, the depression began to slowly weaken but limped across the South China Sea to near the central Vietnamese coastline before dissipating on the 18th where it dropped moderate to heavy rainfall. The maximum winds estimated by any agency were 30 kn/35 mph.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meari (Quinta)
Late on September 18, an area of convection was noted 510 miles east of Guam. On the 20th, Tropical Depression 25W organized out of this mass and was located just 35 miles southeast of Guam. 25W turned more westward and began to accelerate as it moved along the southern periphery of a warm-core ridge. On the 21st, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Meari. It intensified steadily while moving more northwestward. The system was upgraded to typhoon intensity by late on the 22nd. Typhoon Meari possessed a very asymmetric circulation, elongated somewhat to the north and northeast.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meari (Quinta)
Meari became a strong 100-kn/115 mph typhoon by late on the 23rd, and was assigned the name Quinta by PAGASA. After reaching 125 kn/145 mph on the 24th, its strength plateaued for the rest of the day. As it passed 70 miles south of Okinawa early on the 26th, Meari was slowly weakening. The cyclone ceased movement on the 27th about 170 miles west of Okinawa as it became lodged between two anticyclones. A slow northward drift began later that day and vertical wind shear associated with the subtropical jet stream began to take its toll on Meari.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meari (Quinta)
By the 29th, Meari was beginning its approach to the Japanese island of Kyūshū. Typhoon Meari made landfall over the southern tip of Kyūshū around midday local time with maximum sustained winds of 70 kn/80 mph. Meari weakened back into a tropical storm late on the 29th. The forward motion began to accelerate as Meari increasingly interacted with the westerlies. The system was followed until the 30th, when it became a nontropical low, which continued tracking eastwards through the north Pacific.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meari (Quinta)
The highest wind gust reported was 118 mph/52.7 m/s in Kagoshima early on the 29th. The lowest pressure measured during the passage of Meari was 975.5 mb, also at Kagoshima on the 29th. Three tornadoes were spawned in Japan, with two touching down in Okinawa Prefecture and one in Aichi Prefecture. The heaviest rains in Japan were saved for Osawe, where 904 mm fell between late on the 24th and the 30th, with 741 mm falling between late on the 28th and 29th.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Meari (Quinta)
Reports indicate that at least 18 people died with several more reported missing as a result of Typhoon Meari. The worst affected areas were the prefectures of Mie and Ehime in Japan where torrential rains caused widespread flooding and mudslides destroyed several homes. Train and ferry services were suspended, stranding thousands of people. Damages from the storm amounted to $798 million (2004 USD).


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly)
Ma-on formed from a cluster of thunderstorms in the vicinity of Guam on September 29. The small system eventually trekked west-northwesterly. After days of sputtering across the western Pacific, Tropical Depression 26W formed on October 4, and quickly became named Tropical Storm Ma-on. The system became stationary approximately 650 nmi southeast of Okinawa, Japan. PAGASA named the cyclone Rolly when it passed the 135th meridian. On the 5th, a northward drift ensued while well southeast of Okinawa.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly)
Upon reaching typhoon intensity late on the 6th, Ma-on turned northwest and ultimately became the sixth super typhoon of the year on the 8th while 250 miles southeast of Okinawa. The typhoon become the worst storm to hit eastern Japan in over ten years, only a week after Typhoon Meari had made landfall in that nation. Ma-on started to accelerate northeastward and its eye began to shrink in diameter and became more ragged. A slow weakening trend materialized as it entered the early stages of extratropical transition.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly)
Recurving northeast at a high rate of translation, Ma-on made landfall on the Izu Peninsula, Japan, late on the 9th with maximum sustained winds of 105 kn/120 mph as a Category 3 typhoon. Ma-on weakened rapidly and was downgraded to a tropical storm by the 10th, and quickly completed its transformation into a nontropical low. The remnant system moved more east-northeastward away from eastern Japan before slowing its motion 1100 miles southeast of Hokkaidō.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly)
Ma-on was one of the most powerful storms to strike eastern Japan over the last ten years, along with Faxai. The highest wind gust reported was 151 mph/67.6 m/s in Irōzaki late on the 9th. The lowest pressure was also recorded at Irōzaki; 964 mb late on the 9th. The typhoon left at least six people dead, and three persons were reported missing. Plane, train and ferry services nationwide were disrupted, stranding thousands of travellers.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly)
Heavy downpours also disrupted practice and qualifying sessions for Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, with the event featuring qualifying and the race in a single day as a result. The highest storm total amount was noted at Omaezaki, where a 413 mm deluge was seen between late on the 6th and 9th, with 360 mm falling in a 24‑hour period. Rescuers on boats plucked dozens of residents from waterlogged homes in Shizuoka Prefecture. Damages from the storm amounted to $603 million (2004 USD).


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Tokage (Siony)
Tokage is the Japanese word for lizard. On October 12, an area of convection existed 480 miles east-southeast of Guam. The system developed into Tropical Depression 27W later that day, moving in a west-northwesterly at 15 kn about 200 miles east of Guam. On October 13, the system developed into a tropical storm, and was named Tokage, subsequently moving very close to the islands of Rota and Guam. Typhoon intensity was achieved early on October 14 when centered 970 miles southeast of Okinawa. Later that day, Tokage briefly turned to the west-southwest.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Tokage (Siony)
The storm's path curved back to a northwesterly heading by the October 15. The storm curled towards the north as a major shortwave over weakened the subtropical ridge and by October 17, Tokage reached its peak intensity of 125 kn/145 mph. Weakening began later that day as the storm turned back to a more northwesterly heading towards Okinawa and Japan. On October 18, Typhoon Tokage was 290 miles south of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. Recurvature back to the north-northeast towards Japan ensued while the typhoon slowly weakened.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Tokage (Siony)
Tokage made its closest approach to Okinawa late on October 19 when it was passed just to the south-southeast. The storm turned to the northeast as continued to accelerate as its extratropical transition began. Tokage made landfall over Tosa-Shimizu, near the southern tip of Shikoku, Japan still at typhoon strength. By October 21, the cyclone weakened into a tropical storm 130 nmi west of Tokyo, and later that day, the system completed the transition to a nontropical low. The extratropical remains of Tokage moved rapidly northeastward, crossing the International Date Line around midday on October 23.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Tokage (Siony)
The highest measured wind gust was 142 mph/63.7 m/s at Unzendake, Nagasaki on October 20. The lowest pressure from a land station was 949.4 mb at Okinoerabu, Kagoshima late on October 19. The highest rainfall amount noted in Japan was 550 mm at Fukuharaasahi between late on October 17 and 21, with 470 mm falling within a 24‑hour period. Tokage was regarded as the deadliest storm to strike Japan since Typhoon Bess in 1982. A total of 95 deaths were attributed to high winds, flooding and mudslides caused by Tokage, with an additional three people reported missing. A total of 18,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. Damages from the storm amounted to $3.23 billion (2004 USD).


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nock-ten (Tonyo)
Typhoon Nock-ten originated from a disturbance that formed amongst the Marshall Islands early on October 13 while 45 miles west of Kwajalein Atoll. Tropical Depression 28W developed on October 14 about 275 miles east-northeast of Pohnpei and moving westward along the southern periphery of the subtropical ridge. The system assumed a more west-northwesterly track, becoming a tropical storm by late on October 16, and was named Nock-ten. Early on October 18, the storm turned southwest and slowed its forward motion. The system strengthened into a typhoon by noon local time and curved back towards the west.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nock-ten (Tonyo)
Nock-ten soon accelerated and moved more northwesterly, partially due to the remains of Typhoon Tokage. Typhoon Nock-ten passed 160 miles south of Guam on October 20. Nock-ten reached its peak intensity of 110 kn/125 mph on October 23 as it tracked 480 miles south of Okinawa. Turning to a northerly track, Typhoon Nock-ten passed closest to Taipei during the afternoon of October 25, lying just off the northeastern tip of Taiwan by evening. The storm weakened and by local midnight the track became north-northeast. Nock-ten's motion to the east-northeast accelerated to 26 kn/29 mph, and the typhoon had become a nontropical low by the evening of October 26.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nock-ten (Tonyo)
Typhoon Nock-ten lashed northern Taiwan with powerful winds and driving rain. The highest 24‑hour rainfall on the island was 322 mm in Taipei City between early October 25 and 27. The highest wind gust measured was 122 mph/54.4 m/s in Lanyu on October 24. Three fatalities occurred as a result of flash flooding. In Japan, the highest rainfall amount was spotted at Tanegashima which recorded 133.5 mm between midday October 26 and 27.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Muifa (Unding)
The name Muifa is taken from the ume blossom. The disturbance that was to become Typhoon Muifa was noted early on November 14 when located 215 nmi north of Palau. It became Tropical Depression 29W later that day and strengthened into a tropical storm by early the 15th when centered 550 miles east-southeast of Manila, Philippines. PAGASA assigned the name Unding on the 14th as it passed the 135th meridian. On the 16th, the tropical cyclone started drifting north-northeast. Muifa turned back onto a west-northwest heading and intensified.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Muifa (Unding)
It reached typhoon intensity on the 17th just prior to beginning a two-day clockwise loop. Late on the 18th, Muifa's intensity peaked at 115 kn/130 mph still to the east of the Philippines. Muifa made landfall very late on the 19th near Naga City with maximum winds of 70 kn/80 mph. The system ambled across the Philippine Archipelago, dropping down to tropical storm intensity on the afternoon of the 20th. On the 21st, Muifa regained typhoon intensity in the South China Sea.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Muifa (Unding)
Now moving west-southwest, early on the 22nd Muifa re-strengthened into a 90-kn/105 mph typhoon 440 miles east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Muifa held onto typhoon status until late on the 23rd when its weakened to a tropical storm once more. On the 25th, Tropical Storm Muifa accelerated westward at a 21 kn/23 mph clip. By early on the 26th, a weakening Tropical Depression Muifa was located 250 nmi south of Bangkok, Thailand. Later that day Muifa turned northward into an environment of increased wind shear and dissipated 120 nmi south-southwest of Bangkok.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Muifa (Unding)
The highest 24‑hour rainfall amount from the Philippines was 246.4 mm at Catanduanes between midday the 15th and 16th. The lowest pressure at Naga City was 986.1 mb early on the 16th. The death toll reported from the Philippines was 68 dead, 160 injured, and 69 unaccounted for. A total of 26,238 houses were destroyed and 76,062 damaged; total damage reached 1.0089 billion pesos. Typhoon Muifa had a destructive impact on Vietnam. The highest 24-hour rainfall amount reported was 251.5 mm at Prachuap Khirikhan between the afternoon of the 25th and 26th.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Muifa (Unding)
Floods and landslides triggered by the typhoon killed about 40 people, and 40 more people were reported missing. There were also many villages in the mountains which needed urgent relief but which could not be quickly reached. Hội An, which is the town of world heritage, was hit by the flood, and more than 80 old houses were in danger of collapse.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Merbok (Violeta)
Merbok is the Malaysian word for the spotted-necked dove. This is the first tropical cyclone recognized by the Japan Meteorological Agency, but not Joint Typhoon Warning Center, since Changmi in 2002. Tropical Storm Merbok emanated from a disturbance located in the Philippine Sea and was first recognized as Tropical Depression Violeta by PAGASA on November 22. Later that day, it developed into a tropical storm. Merbok tracked slowly towards the northwest and made landfall south of Baler on the east coast of Luzon.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Merbok (Violeta)
The storm's intensity held steady at 35 kn/40 mph (its peak strength) as it ambled its way across the mountains of Luzon, finally emerging off the northwest coast late on the 23rd. By this time, Merbok had lost most or all of its deep convection, the remnants continuing slowly north-westwards before dissipating southwest of Taiwan.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Merbok (Violeta)
Tropical Storm Merbok added to the misery caused by Typhoon Muifa in the Philippines, killing 31 people and injuring 187 others. In addition, 17 persons were reported missing. A total of 337 houses were destroyed and 1,286 damaged. Total estimated damage reached 253 million pesos with agriculture especially hard hit (210 million pesos.) The heaviest rainfall in the Philippines from this cyclone was 185.2 mm at Casiguran between midday the 22nd and 23rd.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression Winnie
Tropical Depression Winnie was a large system which brought torrential rains to Luzon, resulting in deadly flashfloods and landslides. Winnie formed east of the central Philippines on the November 27. JMA and the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan were the only other agencies classifying Winnie as a tropical depression. The system moved west-northwestward over southeastern Luzon on the 29th. After moving well inland over Luzon, Winnie turned to a more north-northwesterly track up the west side of the island and was last mentioned on the 30th when it was located along the northwestern Luzon coast.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Depression Winnie
According to news reports in the Philippines, 1,404 people were killed or left missing during the passage of Tropical Depression Winnie, primarily due to massive flashfloods and landslides in Quezon and Aurora provinces triggered by the attendant heavy rains. The highest rainfall report from this system was 157.8 mm from Cabanatuan between midday November 29 and 30. Damages from the storm amounted to $15.8 million.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong)
The name Nanmodol is from a famous ruin found on Pohnpei. Super Typhoon Nanmadol developed from a cluster of thunderstorms that was first noted early on November 28 when it was located 155 nmi south-southwest of Pohnpei. It developed into Tropical Depression 30W about 690 miles east-southeast of Yap, and into Tropical Storm Nanmadol by midday November 29 as it moved westward south of the subtropical ridge. Nanmadol continued to strengthen, reaching typhoon intensity late that day after passing south of Satawal. The storm's track curved to the west-northwest.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong)
Late on November 30, the storm passed just north of Yap, bringing typhoon-force gusts and sustained tropical storm strength winds. The tropical cyclone reached its peak intensity of 130 kn/150 mph midday on December 2, then a super typhoon, 220 miles east of Manila, Philippines. Super Typhoon Nanmadol soon arrived at the Luzon coastline. At this time, the system began to lose strength and was downgraded from super typhoon status.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong)
Turning northwestward Typhoon Nanmadol took roughly six hours to cross the island of Luzon, and by early on December 3 had re-emerged back over water. The northwesterly turn took Nanmadol into a weakness in the subtropical ridge before being lured away by a major shortwave trough. Nanmadol weakened markedly during December 3 as it gradually veered more towards the north. The cloud pattern became increasingly asymmetrical as Nanmadol moved east-northeastward across southern Taiwan before becoming extratropical during the afternoon of December 4. Nanmadol became the first known December tropical cyclone for 108 years to make landfall on the island. The remnants of Super Typhoon Nanmadol continued to rapidly move to the east-northeast and northeast and ultimately merged with another low-pressure area, forming a powerful extratropical cyclone which brought strong winds and led to unseasonably warm temperatures to Japan.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong)
Because Muifa, Merbok, Winnie, and Nanmadol all occurred within a space of two weeks, the exact number of casualties and total cost of damages is difficult to determine. Nanmadol caused at least 70 fatalities and 157 injuries. Nanmadol destroyed 10,457 houses and damaged 57,435. Agriculture also suffered badly as a result of this typhoon with losses amounting to ₱2.036 billion in the Philippines. The maximum rain in the Philippines was 228.1 mm at Daet between midday on December 2 and 3.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong)
In Taiwan, as much as 907 mm fell in Hualien county between early December 3 and 4. Puluowan reported the highest storm total accumulation of 1090 mm during the 35-hr period ending on the afternoon of December 4. In China, 106.3 mm fell at Dachen Dao between the morning of December 3 and 4. In Taiwan, 2 deaths were reported, and agricultural losses there were estimated to have been NT$670 million.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Talas (Zosimo)
Tropical Depression 31W, which formed on December 10 near Kwajalein, became a tropical storm later that day. Talas moved to the west, peaking at 45 kn/50 mph before weakening due to lack of outflow. A break in the subtropical ridge allowed Talas to turn northward, where it reached 45 kn/50 mph winds before dissipating on December 19. Talas is Filipino for 'acuteness' or 'sharpness'.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Talas (Zosimo)
Between December 10 and 11, Talas produced light rainfall, peaked at 8.4 mm (0.33 in) in Kwajalein with winds reaching 74 km/h (46 mph) and gusting to 103 km/h (64 mph). After passing Kwajelein, the center of Talas brushed Ebeye, producing gale-force winds on the island. Little impact was recorded on Ujae as the storm passed 90 km (55 mi) south of the island.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Talas (Zosimo)
The most severe damage was on Kwajalein; the newly constructed sandblast shelter was completely destroyed, metal doors at the local high school were blown off and the roof of the school was damaged, several metal buildings throughout the island sustained wind damage. On Ebeye, several homes had their roofs blown off and numerous coconut trees were uprooted. No damage was recorded on Ujae but crop losses were assumed to have occurred. In all, the storm caused $750,000 in damages, mainly due to the sandblast shelter. Following Talas, local governments quickly repaired damages wrought by the storm, costing $300,000.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Noru
The final storm of the season, Noru, formed on December 17 to the east-southeast of Saipan. After becoming a tropical storm on December 18 Noru moved to the northwest, where it peaked with 55 kn/65 mph winds. Noru turned to the northeast, and became extratropical on December 21. Noru is the Korean word for the roe deer.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Systems, Tropical Storm Noru
Between December 19 and 20, Noru brought high winds and heavy rains to the northern Mariana Islands. Upwards of 182 mm (7.2 in) fell on Saipan, resulting in isolated flooding. Winds gusted up to 95 kilometres per hour (59 mph) but little or no wind damage resulted from the storm. No structural damage occurred due to Noru.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Storm names
Within the North-western Pacific Ocean, both the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration assign names to tropical cyclones that develop in the Western Pacific, which can result in a tropical cyclone having two names. The Japan Meteorological Agency's RSMC Tokyo — Typhoon Center assigns international names to tropical cyclones on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization's Typhoon Committee, should they be judged to have 10-minute sustained windspeeds of 65 km/h, (40 mph).


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Storm names
While the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration assigns names to tropical cyclones which move into or form as a tropical depression in their area of responsibility located between 135°E and 115°E and between 5°N-25°N even if the cyclone has had an international name assigned to it. The names of significant tropical cyclones are retired, by both PAGASA and the Typhoon Committee. Should the list of names for the Philippine region be exhausted then names will be taken from an auxiliary list of which the first ten are published each season. Unused names are marked in gray.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Storm names, International names
During the season 29 named tropical cyclones developed in the Western Pacific and were named by the Japan Meteorological Agency, when it was determined that they had become tropical storms. These names were contributed to a list of a 140 names submitted by the fourteen members nations and territories of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Storm names, Philippines
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones in their area of responsibility. PAGASA assigns names to tropical depressions that form within their area of responsibility and any tropical cyclone that might move into their area of responsibility. Should the list of names for a given year prove to be insufficient, names are taken from an auxiliary list, the first 10 of which are published each year before the season starts. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2008 season. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Storm names, Retirement
The names Sudal, Tingting and Rananim were retired by the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee. The names Mirinae, Lionrock and Fanapi (which was later retired and replaced by Rai) were chosen to replace Sudal, Tingting and Rananim respectively.


2004 Pacific typhoon season, Season effects
This is a table of the storms in 2004 and their landfalls, if any. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical or a wave or low. The information below is mainly from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Names in parenthesis are those assigned by PAGASA.


2004 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2004 Pacific Life Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was played between March 11 and March 13, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Washington Huskies made their second trip to the final game (and their first since 1987) to play Stanford who was making their third finals appearance. The champion of the tournament was Stanford (who was also the Pac-10 regular season champion), which received the Pac-10's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Most Outstanding Player was Josh Childress of Stanford. The total attendance of 60,126 was the lowest since the tournament had been hosted at the Staples Center from 2002.


2004 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
The top eight Pacific-10 schools play in the tournament. Teams are seeded by conference record, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with identical conference records.


2004 Pakistani presidential election
Presidential elections were held by the Electoral College of Pakistan on 1 January 2004. Pervez Musharraf won 658 out of 1,170 votes, and according to Article 41 (8) of the Constitution of Pakistan, was "deemed to be elected" to the office of President until October, 2007.


2004 Palanca Awards
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners in the year 2004 (rank, name of author, title of winning entry):


2004 Palau Soccer League
The 2004 Palau Soccer League was the first season of association football competition in Palau. The league was won by Daewoo Ngatpang The league consisted of three rounds of matches, a play-off final and was named the Palau Soccer Association Local League.


2004 Palau Soccer League, Teams
Four teams will compete in this inaugural season of the Palau Soccer League. All matches will played at the PCC Track & Field Stadium in Koror, home stadium to all the teams. This is due to the lack of suitable venues for soccer matches in Palau. The teams for 2004 (listed in alphabetical order) are:


2004 Palau Soccer League, Teams
The location of the PCC Track & Field Stadium, where all games will take place:


2004 Palau Soccer League, League stage, Results
The 2004 season was played in two stages: the first stage was a group in which all teams played each other once. The top two teams then qualified for a one legged final to determine the overall champion.


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum
A six-part referendum was held in Palau on 2 November 2004 alongside the country's general elections. Voters were asked questions on summoning a Constitutional Convention, payment of members of the National Congress, creating a unicameral Congress, term limits for Congress members, election of the President and Vice President and dual citizenship. All proposals were approved except the unicameral Congress, which despite receiving a majority of the public vote, did not meet the quorum of 12 of 16 states required for amendments to the constitution.


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Convening of a constitutional convention
Shall there be a Convention to revise or amend the Constitution?


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Congressional attendance
Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative to amend the constitution regarding the payment of members of the National Congress. The proposed amendment of article IX, section 8 would have read:


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Congressional attendance
The compensation of the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau shall be uniform fee for each day the member attends an official session of the Olbiil Era Kelulau. The amount of the fee shall be determined by law. No increase in compensation shall apply to the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau during the term of enactment, nor may an increase in compensation be enacted in the period between the date of a regular general election and the date a new Olbiil Era Kelulau takes office."


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Three-term limit for National Congress members
A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to limit the number of terms a member of the National Congress could serve to three. The text would read:


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Three-term limit for National Congress members
No person shall serve as a member of the Olbiil Era Kelulau for more than three terms; provided however, that any person elected as a member of the Olbiil Era Kelulau in the regular general election in which this amendment is adopted shall be entitle to serve the four-year for which he or she was elected regardless of the number of previous terms served.


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Joint election of the president and vice president
A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to elect the president and vice president together rather than separately. It would amend Article VIII, section 4 of the constitution to read:


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Joint election of the president and vice president
The President and Vice President shall be elected in a nationwide election for a term of four (4) years. The President and Vice President shall be chosen jointly by the casting by each voter of A single vote applicable to both offices. A person may not serve as President for more than two consecutive terms.


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Dual citizenship
A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to allow Palauan citizens to hold dual citizenship, and give citizenship at birth to people with Palauan parents. The proposed wording was:


2004 Palauan constitutional referendum, Results, Dual citizenship
A person born of parent, one or both of whom are of recognized Palauan ancestry, is a citizenship shall not affect a person's Palauan citizenship, nor shall a person of recognized Palauan ancestry be required to renounce United States citizenship to become a naturalized citizen of Palau. Persons of other foreign nations may retain their Palauan citizenship or become naturalized Palauan citizens as provided by law. Palauan citizen may renounce their Palauan citizenship. Renouncements made prior to the effective date of this amendment are not affected by this amendment.


2004 Palauan general election
General elections were held in Palau on 2 November 2004, alongside several referendums. The presidential election was won comfortably by the incumbent, Tommy Remengesau, who took almost two-thirds of the vote, whilst all House of Delegates and Senate seats were won by non-partisan independents.


2004 Palm Beach Gardens Challenger
The 2004 Palm Beach Gardens Challenger was a women's professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 2nd edition of the Palm Beach Gardens Challenger, and was an ITF $50,000 tournament from 2003 to 2005. It took place at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Florida from November 29 to Dec 5, 2004.


2004 Palm Beach Gardens Challenger, WTA entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2004 Palm Beach Gardens Challenger, WTA entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received entry via the Lucky Loser spot:


2004 Palm Beach Gardens Challenger, Champions, Doubles
Līga Dekmeijere /  Nana Miyagi def. Kelly McCain /  Kaysie Smashey, 6–3, 6–2.


2004 Palm Island death in custody
The 2004 Palm Island death in custody incident relates to the death of an Aboriginal resident of Palm Island, Cameron Doomadgee (also known as "Mulrunji") on Friday, 19 November 2004 in a police cell. The death of Mulrunji led to civic disturbances on the island and a legal, political and media sensation that continued for fourteen years.


2004 Palm Island death in custody
The Attorney-General of Queensland, Kerry Shine, indicted an Australian police officer for a criminal trial for the first time since the public prosecutor's office was established. The officer, Sergeant Chris Hurley, who was charged for a death in custody, was acquitted by a jury in June 2007. Hurley medically retired from the Gold Coast station of the Queensland Police in 2017 following a string of charges while serving as a police officer including assault and dangerous driving.


2004 Palm Island death in custody
Police raids and behaviour following the community riot were found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, with a record class action settlement of A$30 million awarded to victims in May 2018.


2004 Palm Island death in custody
Two legal questions arose from the death; firstly, whether the taking into custody of Mulrunji was lawful, and secondly, whether the injuries that led to his death were illegally caused by the arresting officer.


2004 Palm Island death in custody
Politically, this event raised questions relating to the federal government's 1987–1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and whether its recommendations to prevent deaths in custody had been implemented by the government.