[1][2] During March 4, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated advisories on the depression and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 27P, while the system was located about 300 km (185 mi) to the northeast of Port Vila in Vanuatu.

[1] During March 7, the JTWC reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 100 km/h (65 mph), before Gavin started to weaken and lose its tropical characteristics, as it accelerated south-eastwards towards higher latitudes.

[1][3] During March 8, the NZMS reported that the system had become an extratropical depression after it had lost most of its tropical characteristics, before it was last noted during the following day, while it was located about 2,100 km (1,305 mi) to the southeast of Wellington in New Zealand.

[1] However, the majority of the damage associated with Gavin was attributed by the FMS to the prolonged heavy rainfall, after rainbands associated with the monsoon trough had started to impact the island nation during March 2.

[1] Over the next few days, as the system intensified and moved closer, the rainfall became heavier and more widespread, with the heaviest falls occurring between March 4 - 6, while the highest total of 697 mm (27.44 in) was reported in Monasavu.

[1] Several ships were also impacted by Gavin including the Wellington Star which sustained structural and electrical damage, while the Matthew Flinders dragged its anchor and was grounded in Lautoka.