Though a subtropical ridge was forcing the cyclone westward at the time,[2] an approaching shortwave trough caused Sam to track southward the following day, towards the Australian coast.

[4] Throughout its existence, Cyclone Sam brought heavy rainfall to a wide swath of northern Australia.

[2] Offshore, 163 illegal immigrants aboard two vessels were feared to have drowned, which would make Sam one of the deadliest cyclones in Australian history.

The storm paralleled the coast, reaching Category 2 strength before making landfall near Pardoo early on 31 January.

[9] Cyclone Vincent formed on 7 February 2001, 900 km northwest of Onslow, Western Australia from an active monsoonal trough.

Torrential rains produced by the storm in the Northern Territory resulted in severe flooding which killed two people.

Wylva briefly became a Category 1 tropical cyclone before making landfall near Booroloola in the morning of 16 February.

[12] Throughout 5 April, heavy rains and high winds, estimated up to 90 km/h (56 mph) battered the area as Walter passed by the island.

The centre passed just to the north of town with a wind gust to 67 kilometres per hour from the northeast recorded at 4:11 am.

Plantations to the north of Carnarvon reported 30-40% crop losses, with wind estimates of 100 to 110 kilometres per hour.

On 4 December, the TCWC Brisbane reported that a tropical low formed near the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.