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The 2004 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2004 , but most Tropical Cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between June and December. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean . The scope of this article is limited to the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and west of the International Date Line . Storms that form east of the date line and north of the equator are called hurricanes; see 2004 Pacific Hurricane Season . Tropical Storms formed in the entire west pacific basin are assigned a name by the Tokyo Typhoon Center. Tropical depressions in this basin have the "W" suffix added to their number. Tropical depressions that enter or form in the Philippine area of responsibility are assigned a name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical And Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. This can often result in the same storm having two names. STORMS ''See Also: Timeline Of The 2004 Pacific Typhoon Season '' Tropical Storm 01W (Ambo) The first tropical storm of the 2004 Pacific typhoon season developed on February 11 west of Chuuk . It tracked to the west, slowly organizing due to persistent vertical shear. On the 13th and 14th, the depression executed a clockwise loop, and briefly reached storm strength while looping. When the storm turned to the southwest, the vertical shear overcame it, and the storm dissipated it on the 16th. Tropical Storm 02W (Butchoy) The near-equatorial trough spawned a tropical depression east of the Philippines on March 14 . It headed generally northwestward, with a brief turn to the southwest. The depression reached tropical storm strength on the 18th as it approached the Philippines. Just before the storm was about to hit the islands, a trough brought it northward, where dry air and vertical shear caused it to dissipate on the 23rd. Super Typhoon Sudal (Cosme) On April 4 , Tropical Depression 3W 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 intensifed to become a typhoon on the 6th. On the 9th, 130 mph Typhoon Sudal hit the island of Yap . After ravaging the island, Sudal reached a peak of 150 mph winds. The typhoon then turned to the northeast and became extratropical on the 15th. Yap experienced catastrophic damage, with 90% of buildings destroyed, 1,500 left homeless, and one fatality. Sudal is Korean for the otter. Super Typhoon Nida (Dindo) ]] The monsoon trough spawned Tropical Depression 4W east of the Philippines on May 13 . The depression quickly strengthened, reaching tropical storm intensity on the 14th and typhoon status just 6 hours after that. On the 15th and 16th while moving northwest towards the Philippine coast, Nida rapidly intensified to a 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. Tropical Storm 05W From May 15 to the 17th, Tropical Storm 5W persisted in the South China Sea before dissipating over open waters. 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 70 mph winds 3 days later on the 19th. A weakening ridge brought Omais northward, where it became extratropical on the 22nd. 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'. Typhoon Conson (Frank) In the South China Sea , a stationary area of disturbed weather developed into Tropical Depression 7W on June 4 . It tracked eastward then northeastward, becoming a tropical storm on the 5th and a typhoon on the 7th. Conson passed between Luzon and Taiwan , and peaked at 115 mph winds on the 9th. Conson weakened as it continued northeastward, and became extratropical on the 11th near Japan without causing any reported damage. Conson is an area in Vietnam containing many historical monuments. Typhoon Chanthu (Gener) A westward moving disturbance was immediately upgraded to Tropical Storm Chanthu on June 9 , just east of the Philippines . It crossed the islands, and strengthened in the South China Sea to a typhoon on the 12th. After peaking at 85 mph winds, Chanthu hit central Vietnam on the 12th, and dissipated the next day. 7 people were killed in the heavy flooding. Chanthu is type of flower found in Cambodia. Super Typhoon Dianmu (Helen) Tropical Depression 9W, which developed from the monsoon trough on June 13 , headed north in the open Western Pacific. On the 15th and 16th, Dianmu rapidly intensified from an 80 mph typhoon to a 180 mph super typhoon, one of 9 typhoons since 1990 to reach that intensity. It lost some organization on the 18th, but re-strengthened on the 19th to a super typhoon while south of Okinawa , a rare occurrence. Some dry air weakened Dianmu as it continued its northward movement, and hit southern Japan as a 65 mph tropical storm on 21st. Dianmu became extratropical that night after causing 3 deaths. Dianmu is the goddess of thunder and lightning in Chinese folklore. 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 shear. The shear abated, and Mindulle quickly intensified, reaching typhoon strength on the 27th and peaking at 145 mph winds on the 28th. 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 the 4th. Mindulle caused 56 deaths, with $317.2 million in damage in its path (2004 USD). Mindulle is the Korean word for the Dandelion . 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 the 26th. Tingting passed Saipan on the 27th, and reached typhoon status early on the 28th. After peaking at 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. Tropical Storm Kompasu (Julian) An 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. However, as it tracked erratically westward, it intensfied, peaking at 50 mph winds on the 14th. Kompasu turned northward, hit the eastern part of Hong Kong directly as a minimal tropcial storm, and dissipated on the 16th. Kompasu is the Japanese word for compass, and the name of the constellation Circinus . Typhoon Namtheun Tropical Storm Namtheun, which formed on July 25 , rapidly intensified on the 26th to a 135 mph typhoon. Dry air approached the system from the south, and it weakened as it tracked northwest towards Japan. On the 31st, Namtheun hit southwest Japan as a 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. Typhoon Meranti Meranti formed near Wake Island on August 2 and reached it's peak intensity of 105 mph on the 5th before dissipating on the 8th. Meranti was the only one of the six August typhoons which did not affect any populated areas. Meranti is a type of tree found in Malaysia. Tropical Storm Malou An area of convection under moderate to high vertical 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 the 4th. Malou turned to the northeast and became extratropical in the Sea of Japan on the 5th. Malou is the Chinese name for the mineral Agate . Typhoon Rananim (Karen) Rananim formed on August 7 and reached its maximum intensity of 105 MPH on the 12th before making landfall in Zhejiang Province, China later that day. Rananim caused as much as 27 inches of rain in parts of Zhejiang, killing 164 people and causing (US) $2.2 billion in direct economic losses. Rananim is the Chuukese word for 'hello'. Tropical Storm Malakas Malakas is a Filipino word meaning 'strong' or 'powerful'. Typhoon Megi (Lawen) Megi is the Korean word for the Catfish . Super Typhoon Chaba Chaba formed on August 18 in the open Western Pacific. It moved westward, strengthening into a tropical storm on the 19th and a typhoon on the 20th. Chaba turned to the northwest, and rapidly intensified to a 180 mph super typhoon on the 22nd with an estimated minimum central pressure of 879 Mbar , among the lowest on record. After fluctuating between 115 mph and super typhoon status for several days, Chaba weakened as it turned to the north, and hit the southwestern Japan ese island of Honshu . It accellerated to the northeast, and became extratropical on the 31st. The storm killed seven people and brought extensive flooding to Honshu. Chaba is a type of tropical flower. Typhoon Aere (Marce) Aere is the Marshallese word for 'storm'. Tropical Depression 21W Typhoon Songda (Nina) Songda is a branch of the Red River in Vietnam. Tropical Storm Sarika Sarika is a songbird found in Cambodia. Tropical Storm Haima (Ofel) Haima is the Chinese word for the Sea Horse . Tropical Depression (Pablo) Typhoon Meari (Quinta) Meari is Korean for 'echo'. Super Typhoon Ma-on (Rolly) Ma-on is the name of a mountain in Hong Kong . Typhoon Tokage (Siony) Tokage is the Japanese word for lizard. Typhoon Nock-ten (Tonyo) Nock-ten is a type of bird found in Laos. Typhoon Muifa (Unding) Muifa is Ume blossom. Tropical Depression Merbok (Violeta) This is the first tropical cyclone regonised by Japan Meteorological Agency, but not Joint Typhoon Warning Center since Changmi in 2002. Merbok is the Malaysian word for the spotted-necked dove. Tropical Depression (Winnie) Super Typhoon Nanmadol (Yoyong) Nanmodol is a famous ruin found on Pohnpei 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 50 mph before weakening due to lack of outflow. A break in the subtropical ridge allowed Talas to turn northward, where it reached 50 mph winds before dissipating on December 19 . Talas is Filipino for 'acuteness' or 'sharpness'. 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 the 18th Noru moved to the northwest, where it peaked at 65 mph winds. Noru turned to the northeast, and became extratropical on the 21st. Noru is the Korean word for the Roe Deer . 2004 STORM NAMES Western North Pacific tropical cyclones are named by the Tokyo Typhoon Centre of the Japan Meteorological Agency . Names are selected from the following lists, there is no annual list. These are the same lists used for the 2003 Season , with the exceptions of Peipah, Matmo, Nuri and Molave, which replace Vamei, Chataan, Rusa and Imbudo. The names were contributed by members of the WMO Typhoon Committee . Each of 14 nations or territories submitted 10 names, which are used in alphabetical order by the English name of the country. The first storm of 2004 was named Sudal and the final one was named Noru. Philippines The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical And Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) uses its own naming scheme for tropical cyclones within its area of responsibility. Lists are recycled every four years. SEE ALSO
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