Arcing south in a clockwise turn, the system rapidly intensified, and became a severe tropical cyclone on 10 February near Niue.

On 3 February, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor Tropical Disturbance 07F,[1]: 7–8  which had developed within a trough of low pressure, about 435 km (270 mi) to the southeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

[3] Over the next couple of days, the system moved erratically near northern Vanuatu and remained poorly organized, with convection located to the south of the low-level circulation center.

[6][7] During 9 February, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 09P, after an ASCAT image showed that it had winds of 65–75 km/h (40–45 mph) in its northern semicircle.

[10] On 10 February, Gita rapidly intensified to a category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale[11] while traversing anomalously warm sea surface temperatures of between 28–29 °C (82–84 °F).

[14][15] At this time, maximum 10-minute sustained winds were estimated at 195 km/h (121 mph) making Gita the strongest cyclone to strike the nation since reliable records began.

[14][16] The JTWC estimated the system to have reached its overall peak intensity at this time as a Category 4-equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson scale with 1-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h (140 mph).

However, NWS Forecasters emphasized the risk of flash floods and mudslides as the interaction of two cyclones led to persistent monsoonal flow across the region.

[30] Monsoonal rains continued for two days after Cyclone Gita, and the flash flood watch was finally discontinued on 12 February.

[37] The American Samoa Emergency Management Agency advised residents to "remain on alert and secure loose items as necessary".

[40] Cyclone Gita reached American Samoa on 9 February, bringing heavy rains and strong winds from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time.

[19] These winds tore roofs of structures and downed trees and power lines across the territory,[41] with the most severe damage reported in Nuʻuuli and Tafuna.

[48] Inclement weather produced by Cyclone Gita impeded response efforts by the United States Coast Guard.

[52][53] The American Samoa Department of Commerce estimated that half of the territory's population suffered some form of property loss and placed total damage at US$200 million.

[19] On 10 February, a Coast Guard AC-130 conducted aerial surveys of the territory and a small group of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel were deployed.

[56] The United States Army Reserve assisted FEMA and the American Red Cross with the deployment of personnel and distribution of relief supplies.

[61] On 9 April 2019, Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (H.R.

The bill, signed into law by President Trump on 6 June, provided just over US$17.2 billion for disaster recovery nationwide; of this US$18 million was allocated for American Samoa and made available through February 2020.

[62] However, distribution of these funds was delayed and Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga urged the United States Department of Agriculture to expedite the process.

[18]: 16  The nationwide reconstruction efforts and the influx of money in the wake of the cyclone spurred slight growth of the American Samoa economy, reflecting in the gross domestic product increasing by 2.2 percent in 2018,[18]: 12  and a pause in the recession.

[65] Older structures suffered the greatest damage, including the Tongan Parliament building, built more than 100 years ago, which was flattened by the storm.

Personnel from His Majesty's Armed Forces rescued people during the storm and began clearing roads at daybreak on 13 February.

On 13 February, Australia provided A$350,000 (US$275,000) in emergency supplies via the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to assist more than 2,000 people.

[66] During Gita's formative states on 6–8 February, the depression brought heavy rain and gusty winds to northern Fiji resulting in some flooding.

[72] On 13 February, the center of Gita passed roughly 60 km (37 mi) south of Ono-i-Lau in the Lau Islands of Fiji.

[21] On 16 February, the New Caledonia branch of Météo-France issued a level 1 hurricane alert for the Isle of Pines, southeast Grande Terre.

[22] While located nearly 1,000 km (620 mi) east of Queensland on 17 February, large swells propagating from the cyclone impacted Australia's Pacific beaches.

Surf Life Saving New South Wales stated that rescue operations shifted to recovery the following day as there had been "a significant amount of time since this gentleman disappeared".

[90][91] Campers, hikers, and boaters in the Marlborough Sounds were told to evacuate, and residents there were warned that communications could be cut off by the storm.

[94] As Gita bore down on the South Island, bringing floods and strong winds, a state of emergency was eventually declared on 20 February.