2004–05 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season

Nov 1, 2004 – Apr 30, 2005 · Season ended

The 2004–05 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season produced 31 named storms, 13 at hurricane strength and 9 major storms, against a 1991–2020 average of 26.7, 13.8 and 7.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 278, 128% of the average.

2003–04 season 2005–06 season All Southern Hemisphere seasons

Named storms

Avg 26.7 (1991–2020)

Hurricane strength

64 kt or stronger · avg 13.8

Major (Cat 3+)

Including 3 Category 5

Accumulated energy

128% of normal

ACE 278 vs 1991–2020 avg 217

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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5

2004–05 season at a glance

Named storms: 31 (1991–2020 average 26.7).
Hurricane strength (64 kt+): 13 (average 13.8).
Major, 96 kt+: 9, including 3 at Category 5 strength (average 7.5).
Accumulated cyclone energy: 278.1, 128% of the 217 average.
Named-storm days: 132.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
First named storm: Phoebe, September 1, 2004.
First storm at hurricane strength: Arola, November 9, 2004.
First major storm: Bentojana, November 22, 2004.
Last storm to dissipate: Sheila, April 23, 2005.
All systems tracked: 32, including 1 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 2004–05 season

Storm	Dates	Peak	Min pressure	Landfall
Phoebe	Aug 30 – Sep 5	TS	984 mb	—
TD 2S	Oct 24 – Oct 29	TS	997 mb	—
Arola	Nov 6 – Nov 18	C1	976 mb	—
Bentojana	Nov 19 – Dec 4	C5	898 mb	—
TD 5S	Dec 3 – Dec 6	TS	997 mb	—
Unnamed	Dec 12 – Dec 14	TD	—	—
Chambo	Dec 21 – Jan 3	C3	944 mb	—
Judy	Dec 21 – Dec 27	TS	987 mb	—
Raymond	Dec 30 – Jan 10	TS	987 mb	Yes
Kerry	Jan 3 – Jan 18	C2	954 mb	—
Sally	Jan 6 – Jan 10	TS	991 mb	—
TD 10S	Jan 13 – Jan 18	TS	997 mb	—
Daren	Jan 15 – Jan 23	TS	991 mb	—
Ernest	Jan 16 – Jan 25	C3	944 mb	Tranovaho, Madagascar
Tim	Jan 22 – Jan 26	TS	997 mb	—
Felapi	Jan 26 – Feb 3	TS	995 mb	Betioky, Madagascar
Lola	Jan 27 – Feb 2	TS	990 mb	—
Gerard	Jan 29 – Feb 5	TS	980 mb	—
Meena	Feb 1 – Feb 11	C4	916 mb	—
Harvey	Feb 3 – Feb 8	TS	987 mb	Yes
Vivienne	Feb 4 – Feb 9	TS	995 mb	—
Olaf	Feb 10 – Feb 23	C5	892 mb	—
Nancy	Feb 10 – Feb 18	C4	916 mb	—
Percy	Feb 23 – Mar 5	C5	898 mb	—
Rae	Feb 28 – Mar 8	TS	997 mb	—
Ingrid	Mar 3 – Mar 17	C4	904 mb	Yes
Willy	Mar 8 – Mar 14	C2	954 mb	—
Hennie	Mar 19 – Apr 1	C1	976 mb	—
Isang	Mar 29 – Apr 8	TS	982 mb	—
Adeline	Apr 1 – Apr 16	C4	916 mb	—
Unnamed	Apr 13 – Apr 15	TS	990 mb	—
Sheila	Apr 20 – Apr 23	TS	990 mb	—

Phoebe: Phoebe formed in the Southern Hemisphere in August 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 6 days.
TD 2S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in October 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 4 days.
Arola: Arola formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
Bentojana: Bentojana formed in the Southern Hemisphere in November 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 898 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
TD 5S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 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 3 days.
Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2004. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
Chambo: Chambo formed in the Southern Hemisphere in December 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Judy: Judy formed in the Southern Hemisphere 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 6 days.
Raymond: Raymond formed in the Southern Hemisphere 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. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Kerry: Kerry formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone 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 15 days.
Sally: Sally formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
TD 10S: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 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.
Daren: Daren formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Ernest: Ernest formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a Category 3 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It made landfall near Tranovaho, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Tim: Tim formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 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.
Felapi: Felapi formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Betioky, Madagascar. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Lola: Lola formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Gerard: Gerard formed in the Southern Hemisphere in January 2005 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 8 days.
Meena: Meena formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Harvey: Harvey formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Vivienne: Vivienne formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Olaf: Olaf formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 892 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Nancy: Nancy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Percy: Percy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 and peaked as a Category 5 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 898 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
Rae: Rae formed in the Southern Hemisphere in February 2005 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 7 days.
Ingrid: Ingrid formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2005 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 904 mb. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Willy: Willy formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2005 and peaked as a Category 2 cyclone 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 6 days.
Hennie: Hennie formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2005 and peaked as a Category 1 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
Isang: Isang formed in the Southern Hemisphere in March 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Adeline: Adeline formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2005 and peaked as a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 916 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
Unnamed: This system formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Sheila: Sheila formed in the Southern Hemisphere in April 2005 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2004–05

Cyclone Olaf was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 892 mb, on February 16, 2005. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

7 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2004–05

5 of the season’s 32 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

January 2, 2005: Raymond, 50 mph (tropical storm)
January 23, 2005: Ernest near Tranovaho, Madagascar, 95 mph (Category 2)
January 28, 2005: Felapi near Betioky, Madagascar, 40 mph (tropical storm)
February 7, 2005: Harvey, 60 mph (tropical storm)
March 9, 2005: Ingrid, 105 mph (Category 2)
March 12, 2005: Ingrid, 140 mph (Category 4)
March 13, 2005: Ingrid, 115 mph (Category 3)
March 15, 2005: Ingrid, 145 mph (Category 4)

How 2004–05 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 10th of 47 Southern Hemisphere seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 25th for hurricane strength (tied with 8 other seasons) and 7th for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 37 named storms, in 1997, and the highest ACE is 364, in 1997.

2004–05 storm names

The 2004–05 season used 27 names: Phoebe, Arola, Bentojana, Chambo, Judy, Raymond, Kerry, Sally, Daren, Ernest, Tim, Felapi, Lola, Gerard, Meena, Harvey, Vivienne, Olaf, Nancy, Percy, Rae, Ingrid, Willy, Hennie, Isang, Adeline, Sheila.

5 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.

2004–05 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2004–05?

The 2004–05 Southern Hemisphere cyclone season had 31 named storms, 13 at hurricane strength and 9 major storms, from 32 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 26.7 named storms, 13.8 at 64 kt or more and 7.5 major per season. The first to form was Phoebe and the last was Sheila.

What was the strongest storm of 2004–05?

Cyclone Olaf. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 892 mb on February 16, 2005. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 7 Southern Hemisphere storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2004–05 season end?

Australia’s official season ran from November 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005. Our counts follow IBTrACS, which files every storm from July 2004 to June 2005 under the 2004–05 season. The busiest months are January–February. The last system, Sheila, dissipated on April 23, 2005.