[1] As the system moved south-westwards towards Wallis, a circulation developed within this area of convergence and the Fiji Meteorological Service started to monitor it as a shallow tropical depression.

[2] Over the next day, the system slowly developed and organised further as it was steered south-southwestwards, in between the islands of Wallis and Futuna by a strong mid-level ridge of high pressure.

[5] However, during 7 March, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) took over the issuance of advisories on Fran from the NPMOC, as it had crossed the 180th meridian into its area of responsibility.

[5] Continuing to intensify, Fran was classified as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone by the FMS during 7 March, as it passed around 400 km (250 mi) to the north of Suva, Fiji.

[2][4] As the system continued to intensify and move south-southwestwards, it posed a serious threat to the central islands of Vanuatu, including Efate, Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna and Erromango.

[6] On 8 March, the FMS reported that the system had peaked with 10-minute sustained windspeeds of winds of 205 km/h (125 mph), which made it a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone on the Australian Scale.

[2][6] The system emerged into the Coral Sea later that day and threatened New Caledonia, as it started to gradually weaken as a result of an increase in vertical windshear.

[4][2] Over the next few days, Fran maintained its intensity as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, as it slowed down and moved erratically towards Australia's Queensland Coast.

[7] On 14 March, the BoM reported that Fran had weakened into a Category 2 tropical cyclone, while it was located about 435 km (270 mi) to the northwest of Yeppoon in Queensland.

[4] By this time the system had started to move southwards and encounter vertical wind shear, from a mid-level ridge of high pressure to the southwest.

[4] Fran's remnants passed over Norfolk Island that same day, before they were last noted on 21 March, as they merged with a trough of low pressure to the north of New Zealand.

[4][7] The effects of Severe Tropical Cyclone Fran were felt over a large area of the Southern Pacific, as it impacted the island nations of Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Queensland.

[8] Tropical Cyclone Fran impacted the islands of Wallis and Futuna between 5 and 8 March, where damage to roofs, trees, telephones and power lines was reported.

[6] Damage was widespread but variable on Efate, with places that were exposed to the south and west of Fran worst hit, including the village of Pango located just outside Port Vila.

[26] Winds and flooding caused minor property damage, but considerable crop losses along were reported the coast, with the worst effects in Bundaberg.