These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical and subtropical cyclones form in the basin, which is west of 90°E and south of the Equator.

Tropical and subtropical cyclones in this basin are monitored by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Réunion and unofficially by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Activity began early, with the first two systems (Ashley and Balita) developing in September and October, and ended late with Fabien in May.

The season in the South-West Indian Ocean was expected to be near- to below-average, with 6–10 systems of moderate tropical storm intensity or higher.

In May, Fabien formed close to the equator and became an intense tropical cyclone, which was unusually strong this late in the season before encountering increasing wind shear.

The ACE index for the 2022–23 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season as calculated by Colorado State University was 197.7 units.

On 22 September, a near-equatorial trough produced a weak tropical low in the Indian Ocean, initially expected by MFR to not form due to upper wind shear.

[16][5] The system then reached peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph),[5] before succumbing to strong northeasterly shear and significant dry air intrusions late on the same day, prompting the JTWC to issue their final advisory on Ashley.

[32] On 5 November, Tropical Low 02U that was being monitored by the MFR crossed into the South-West Indian Ocean basin from the Australian region.

[11] Environmental conditions were assessed as being marginally conducive for tropical cyclogenesis, with low vertical wind shear and moderate equatorial outflow.

[38] With a well-defined eye and impressive appearance on satellite imagery, Darian re-intensified, reaching 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph) around 06:00 UTC on 23 December.

[40] Around the same time, the JTWC's also assessed Darian as having 1-minute maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), making the storm a Category 4-equivalent cyclone again on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHWS).

[46] At 03:00 UTC on 26 December, the JTWC reported that Darian had re-strengthened to 205 km/h (125 mph) with a warm 14 °F (−10 °C), a wide eye 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi), and was surrounded by cold, −98 to −116 °F (−72 to −82 °C) cloud tops.

[52] Satellite imagery showed that the cloud pattern began to rapidly deteriorate, and MFR followed suit and declared it a severe tropical storm.

[60][13] Satellite imagery showed that a central dense overcast (CDO) was obscuring the low-level circulation center (LLCC), and Cheneso intensified further into a severe tropical storm.

[77] Later the next day, Dingani had rapidly consolidated as it formed a 20 km (12 mi) diameter eye, including a significant improved convective structure; the JTWC's assessed the storm to have strengthened into 140 km/h (85 mph) of winds.

[87] On 19 February, the MFR upgraded Freddy to a very intense tropical cyclone estimated a minimum barometric pressure of 931 hPa (27.49 inHg) and 10-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph).

[88] However, the MFR later revised these figures, concluding a peak wind speed of 230 km/h (145 mph), and minimum central pressure of 927 hPa (27.37 inHg).

[89] Freddy's eye pattern quickly deteriorated as the cloud tops warmed on 20 February, while it was traversing north of the Mascarene Islands.

[91] Freddy made landfall as a strong Category 2-equivalent intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) near Mananjary, Madagascar on 21 February.

The cyclone moved westward and quickly intensified into a severe tropical storm around 12:00 UTC that day, with convection wrapping around its center.

[105][106]On 18 February, the MFR began monitoring a clockwise circulation located in the far northeastern corner of the basin, west-northwest of the Cocos Islands.

[118] Enala significantly weakened due to strong northwesterly wind shear, prompting the MFR to downgrade the system back to 110 km/h (70 mph).

[122][123]On 21 March, a weak low-pressure developed over the central Indian Ocean, MFR initially estimated a "very low" chance of a tropical cyclone.

[129] The active phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) led to the MFR forecasting that a cyclonic circulation would form in the Indonesian region to the east of its area of responsibility (AoR).

[144] With a solid eyewall of deep convection surrounding an eye, the JTWC upgraded Fabien to a Category 2-equivalent cyclone at 15:00 UTC on 15 May, estimating that the storm possessed 1-minute sustained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph).

[147][148] Moderate wind shear started to affect the west and southwest parts of Fabien, and its eyewall began to erode.

[152][153] Around 19:00 UTC on 15 May,[154] a Chinese fishing boat, the Lu Pen Yuan Yu, capsized as 7 m (23 ft) waves battered the vessel.

[157] New names this season are: Ashley, Balita, Cheneso, Dingani, Enala, Fabien, Gezani, Horacio, Indusa and Juluka.

They replaced Ambali, Belna, Calvinia, Diane, Esami, Francisco, Gabekile, Herold, Irondro and Jeruto during the 2019–20 season.