Heta formed on December 25, 2003; it reached a maximum intensity of 260 km/h (160 mph) and an estimated pressure of 915 hPa (27.02 inHg) before dissipating on January 11, 2004.

[1][2] At this time, the disturbance was poorly organised with atmospheric convection surrounding the system displaced by about a degree to the north and east of its low-level circulation centre.

[2] Over the next few days, the system gradually developed further and was classified as a tropical depression by the FMS during December 28, as it slowly moved eastwards to the north of Fiji.

[1][3] During the next day, as the depression passed about 40 km (25 mi) to the northeast of Futuna, the system started to move north-eastwards towards Tokelau.

At this point, low wind shear and high sea surface temperatures caused Heta to intensify rapidly.

[5][6] On January 3, Heta, aided by a weak steering current, slowly began to move to the southeast as it became a Category 1 hurricane.

Heta reached a peak intensity of 260 km/h (160 mph) at midnight UTC on January 5, and maintained it for 24 hours as it continued its south-southeastward track.

[5][6] During January 1, the FMS issued a tropical cyclone alert for Tokelau before upgrading it later that day to a gale warning, as Heta was expected to cause gale-force winds over the islands within 24–36 hours.

[11][12] In Niue, anticipating that the storm would bring catastrophic damage, 1300 residents sought shelter in their homes while others evacuated coastal areas to higher ground.

The capital city of Alofi, which took the brunt of the storm, was devastated as most of the commercial and financial areas were wiped out by the high winds.

The devastation left by Heta led to a major recovery plan by the government of Niue that lasted throughout 2004 and cost over $20 million (2004 NZD).

In Tonga, the Red Cross conducted a damage survey and provided relief aid to Niuatoputapu, which was hit especially hard by the cyclone.