2004 West Pacific typhoon season
All year · Season ended
The 2004 West Pacific typhoon season produced 32 named storms, 20 typhoons and 14 major typhoons, against a 1991–2020 average of 25.5, 15.8 and 9.0. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 483, 169% of the average.
Named storms
32
Avg 25.5 (1991–2020)
Typhoons
20
64 kt or stronger · avg 15.8
Major (Cat 3+)
14
Including 4 Category 5
Accumulated energy
≈1.7× normal
ACE 483 vs 1991–2020 avg 286
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5
2004 season at a glance
- Named storms: 32 (1991–2020 average 25.5).
- Typhoons (64 kt+): 20 (average 15.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 14, including 4 at Category 5 strength (average 9.0).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 483.1, 169% of the 286 average.
- Named-storm days: 186.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1W, February 13.
- First typhoon: Sudal, April 6.
- First major storm: Sudal, April 8.
- Last storm to dissipate: Noru, December 23.
- All systems tracked: 34, including 2 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph). Regional agencies here use 10-minute winds (3-minute in India), so their official counts can differ.
Every storm of the 2004 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1W | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| TD 2W | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Sudal | – | C4 | 910 mb | — |
| Nida | – | C5 | 898 mb | Pandan, Philippines |
| TD 5W | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Omais | – | TS | 980 mb | — |
| Conson | – | C3 | 944 mb | Muroto-misakicho, Japan |
| Chanthu | – | C1 | 967 mb | Bogo, Philippines |
| Dianmu | – | C5 | 879 mb | — |
| Mindulle | – | C4 | 916 mb | Hualien City, Taiwan |
| Tingting | – | C1 | 963 mb | — |
| Kompasu | – | TS | 991 mb | Longgang, China |
| Namtheun | – | C4 | 927 mb | Yoshino, Japan |
| Unnamed | – | TD | — | — |
| Malou | – | TS | 997 mb | Kamigōri, Japan |
| Meranti | – | C2 | 954 mb | — |
| Rananim | – | C2 | 954 mb | Wenling, China |
| Malakas | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Megi | – | C1 | 976 mb | Goshogawara, Japan |
| Chaba | – | C5 | 879 mb | Harai, Japan |
| Aere | – | C2 | 954 mb | Jinjiang, China |
| TD 21W | – | TD | 1000 mb | — |
| Songda | – | C4 | 916 mb | Munakata, Japan |
| Sarika | – | TS | 980 mb | — |
| Haima | – | TS | 992 mb | Tainan, Taiwan |
| Meari | – | C4 | 916 mb | Kagoshima, Japan |
| Ma-On | – | C5 | 898 mb | Ōta, Japan |
| Tokage | – | C4 | 916 mb | Tokushima, Japan |
| Nock-Ten | – | C3 | 933 mb | — |
| Muifa | – | C4 | 927 mb | Mercedes, Philippines |
| Merbok | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Nanmadol | – | C4 | 910 mb | Bayombong, Philippines |
| Talas | – | TS | 987 mb | — |
| Noru | – | TS | 984 mb | — |
- TD 1W: This system formed in the West Pacific in February 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 2W: This system formed in the West Pacific in March 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Sudal: Sudal formed in the West Pacific in April 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 910 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Nida: Nida formed in the West Pacific in May 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 898 mb. It made landfall near Pandan, Philippines. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 5W: This system formed in the West Pacific in May 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Omais: Omais formed in the West Pacific in May 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Conson: Conson formed in the West Pacific in June 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made landfall near Muroto-misakicho, Japan. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Chanthu: Chanthu formed in the West Pacific in June 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Bogo, Philippines and last near An Khê, Vietnam. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Dianmu: Dianmu formed in the West Pacific in June 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 879 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Mindulle: Mindulle formed in the West Pacific in June 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Hualien City, Taiwan and last near Wenling, China. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Tingting: Tingting formed in the West Pacific in June 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Kompasu: Kompasu formed in the West Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It made landfall near Longgang, China. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Namtheun: Namtheun formed in the West Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Yoshino, Japan and last near Okugano, Japan. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the West Pacific in July 2004. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Malou: Malou formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Kamigōri, Japan. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Meranti: Meranti formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 2 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Rananim: Rananim formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 2 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Wenling, China. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Malakas: Malakas formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Megi: Megi formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made landfall near Goshogawara, Japan. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Chaba: Chaba formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 879 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Harai, Japan and last near Hakodate, Japan. The system was tracked for 20 days.
- Aere: Aere formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 2 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It made landfall near Jinjiang, China. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- TD 21W: This system formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Songda: Songda formed in the West Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It made landfall near Munakata, Japan. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Sarika: Sarika formed in the West Pacific in September 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Haima: Haima formed in the West Pacific in September 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Tainan, Taiwan and last near Wenzhou, China. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Meari: Meari formed in the West Pacific in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Kagoshima, Japan and last near Osaka, Japan. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Ma-On: Ma-On formed in the West Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 898 mb. It made landfall near Ōta, Japan. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Tokage: Tokage formed in the West Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Tokushima, Japan and last near Motosu, Japan. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Nock-Ten: Nock-Ten formed in the West Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Muifa: Muifa formed in the West Pacific in November 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 927 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Mercedes, Philippines and last near Calintaan, Philippines. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Merbok: Merbok formed in the West Pacific in November 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Nanmadol: Nanmadol formed in the West Pacific in November 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 910 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Bayombong, Philippines and last near Chaozhou, Taiwan. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Talas: Talas formed in the West Pacific in December 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Noru: Noru formed in the West Pacific in December 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2004
Super Typhoon Dianmu was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 180 mph (285 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 879 mb, on June 16. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
11 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 18 matched it. It produced 8% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2004
18 of the season’s 34 systems made landfall, 11 of them at typhoon strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 17: Nida near Pandan, Philippines, 150 mph (Category 4)
- June 9: Chanthu near Bogo, Philippines, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- June 9: Chanthu near Janiuay, Philippines, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- June 11: Conson near Muroto-misakicho, Japan, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- June 12: Chanthu near An Khê, Vietnam, 75 mph (Category 1)
- July 1: Mindulle near Hualien City, Taiwan, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- July 3: Mindulle near Wenling, China, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- July 16: Kompasu near Longgang, China, 40 mph (tropical storm)
- July 31: Namtheun near Yoshino, Japan, 55 mph (tropical storm)
- July 31: Namtheun near Okugano, Japan, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- August 4: Malou near Kamigōri, Japan, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- August 12: Rananim near Wenling, China, 100 mph (Category 2)
- August 19: Megi near Goshogawara, Japan, 80 mph (Category 1)
- August 25: Aere near Jinjiang, China, 80 mph (Category 1)
- August 30: Chaba near Harai, Japan, 100 mph (Category 2)
- August 30: Chaba near Shūnan, Japan, 90 mph (Category 1)
- August 31: Chaba near Hakodate, Japan, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- September 7: Songda near Munakata, Japan, 100 mph (Category 2)
- September 11: Haima near Tainan, Taiwan, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- September 13: Haima near Wenzhou, China, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 29: Meari near Kagoshima, Japan, 75 mph (Category 1)
- September 29: Meari near Sukumo, Japan, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 29: Meari near Osaka, Japan, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- October 9: Ma-On near Ōta, Japan, 110 mph (Category 2)
- October 20: Tokage near Tokushima, Japan, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- October 20: Tokage near Motosu, Japan, 60 mph (tropical storm)
- November 19: Muifa near Mercedes, Philippines, 95 mph (Category 2)
- November 20: Muifa near Calintaan, Philippines, 80 mph (Category 1)
- December 2: Nanmadol near Bayombong, Philippines, 125 mph (Category 3)
- December 4: Nanmadol near Chaozhou, Taiwan, 50 mph (tropical storm)
How 2004 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 2nd of 47 West Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 4th for typhoons (tied with 5 other seasons) and 1st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 33 named storms, in 1994, and the highest ACE is 483, in 2004.
2004 storm names
The 2004 season used 29 names: Sudal, Nida, Omais, Conson, Chanthu, Dianmu, Mindulle, Tingting, Kompasu, Namtheun, Malou, Meranti, Rananim, Malakas, Megi, Chaba, Aere, Songda, Sarika, Haima, Meari, Ma-On, Tokage, Nock-Ten, Muifa, Merbok, Nanmadol, Talas, Noru.
5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
2004 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2004?
The 2004 West Pacific typhoon season had 32 named storms, 20 typhoons and 14 major typhoons, from 34 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 25.5 named storms, 15.8 at 64 kt or more and 9.0 major per season. The first to form was Tropical Storm 1W and the last was Noru.
What was the strongest storm of 2004?
Super Typhoon Dianmu. It peaked at 180 mph (285 km/h, 155 kt) with a lowest pressure of 879 mb on June 16. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 West Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 8% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2004 season end?
The West Pacific has no official season, so the 2004 season is simply the calendar year: every storm that formed by December 31 counts. The last system, Noru, dissipated on December 23. Since 1980, 51 West Pacific storms reached tropical-storm strength in December.