Forming as tropical depression on January 25, Arthur rapidly intensified into a strong Category 2 cyclone on the Australian intensity scale according to the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Nadi, Fiji.

During January 21, 2007, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) reported that Tropical Depression 08F had developed about 435 km (270 mi) to the west-northwest of Savai'i in Samoa.

[1][2] The depression slowly traveled towards the east-southeast for several days as the overall structure of the storm fluctuated due to diurnal variations and strong wind shear.

[1] Around 1700 UTC on January 22, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for the depression.

[1] The storm, which was named Arthur by the FMS, began to undergo rapid intensification as the structure improved significantly.

[5] Later that day, a banding eye feature began to develop as the storm intensified into a Category 2 cyclone on the Australian intensity scale.

[1] Shortly after peaking in intensity, Arthur began to undergo an extratropical transition and rapidly deteriorated[8] due to strong wind shear.

[8] The strong shear left the center of circulation partially exposed, with deep convection persisting in only the southeastern quadrant.

[14] Small craft advisories were issued for the Cook Islands due to large swells produced by the storm.