The tropical disturbance that would later become Clotilda was first warned on by Météo-France's (MFR) meteorological office at Réunion at 0600 UTC on February 9.

However, the strengthening trend was short lived, and several hours later, MFR downgraded Clotilda into a tropical depression as it began to meander.

Data from both agencies suggest that the storm held on to its intensity for about a day before gradually intensifying while turning east, passing within 80 km (50 mi) Réunion.

The following day, MFR noted that Severe Tropical Storm Clotilda had reached its peak 10-minute sustained wind speed of 110 km/h (70 mph) while undergoing a small clockwise loop, passing about 155 km (95 mi) east of Mauritius.

Now moving west and away from the island of Reunion, the storm continued to deteriorate, and early on February 15, the JTWC downgraded the system into a tropical depression while centered 560 km (350 mi) west-southwest of Mauritius.

Very early on February 16, the JTWC dropped advisories on the system even though MFR was still reporting winds of 65 km/h (40 mph).

Late on February 17, the cyclone reached its secondary peak of 95 km/h (60 mph) while located 1,210 km (750 mi) south-southeast of Réunion.

[2] Clotilda affected Mauritius on February 13 and 14, with winds of up to 145 km/h (90 mph), heavy rain and high seas.

[4][5][6] Due to the storm's slow motion, Cyclone Clotilda brought torrential rains to the island of Réunion during a span of three days.

[11] The north side of the island[13] as well as the capital city of Saint Denis took the brunt of the cyclone; wind gusts of 170 km/h (105 mph) were measured there.