Forming out of an area of low pressure on 27 March 1978, Alby steadily developed as it tracked southwestward, parallel to the west coast.

[1] A report at the time noted that "The Perth metropolitan area and nearly every town from Geraldton to Albany was extensively damaged.

According to a Canadian newspaper, the Associated Press reported initially that officials in Perth said that "A tropical cyclone Tuesday tore across the southwestern tip of Australia, killing at least five persons and sparking brushfires that destroyed two towns.

[4] Severe Tropical Cyclone Alby was first identified on 27 March 1978 as a disorganized area of low pressure situated roughly 800 km (500 mi) north-northwest of Karratha.

[1] Gale-force winds were later confirmed on 30 March by the Martha Bakke, located 385 km (239 mi) west-northwest of the storm's centre.

Due to the rapid movement of Alby, the system maintained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) as it reached this point, making it one of the most intense storms to strike the region.

By 5 April, the cyclone rapidly lost its identity as it became caught up in a northwesterly flow before merging with the cold front over the Great Australian Bight.

Moving at speeds up to 90 km/h (56 mph), winds along the northeastern edge of the storm were increased by that amount due to Alby's clockwise rotation.

Near the coast, the combined effects of strong, onshore winds and little rain led to significant inland sea spray.

Large portions of the South-West Land Division were without electricity due to Cyclone Alby; Perth nearly sustained a complete breakdown of power services.

[2] Newspapers connected the death of one person in a vehicle accident in Pemberton to the storm;[4] however, the Bureau of Meteorology does not attribute it to Alby.

[12] Two people were killed while trying to suppress the fires: one from a fallen tree in Mount Barker and the other in Manjiump when a bulldozer clearing a firebreak flipped over.

[2][13] Along the coast, large swells produced by the storm resulted in two fatalities in Albany Harbour as well as significant coastal damage.

[16] The unprecedented scale of damage prompted meteorologists to vastly improve forecasting in the region to be better prepared for a similar storm in the future.

At the time, little to no warning was given to residents in the South-West Land Division; this was the result of Alby's abrupt acceleration along a cold front, a complex forecasting situation.