The origins of Cyclone Cody can be traced back to an area of low pressure near the Fijian dependency of Rotuma late on 3 January.

[16][17] By 12 January, at 00:00 UTC, Cody reached its peak intensity, as it became a category 3 severe tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 70 kn (130 km/h; 80 mph).

[7] At the time of its peak intensity, Cody developed a 74-kilometre-wide (46 mi) banding eye, as it moved into an environment of lowering sea surface temperatures and increasing shear.

[19] Its peak intensity was short-lived because 12 hours later, Cody weakened to a category 2 tropical cyclone due to a dry air intrusion from the west, along with strong shear as it turned to the southeast.

[26] The remnants of the system continued southeast, passing near New Zealand by 17 January,[27] before being last noted late on the same day as a gale-force low to the north of the Chatham Islands.

[31] As it became a tropical disturbance on 8 January, the FMS issued a severe flood alert for low-lying areas near major rivers in Viti Levu.

[37] The tsunami that was caused by the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15 was amplified in New Zealand as a result of the storm surge created by Cyclone Cody.