For various reasons that remain unknown, the cyclone was only designated a name by the time it had crossed into the area of responsibility of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Réunion.

At 18:00 UTC on 22 March, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the central Indian Ocean,[1] approximately 685 km (426 mi) southeast of Christmas Island.

The system was embedded mostly in the monsoon trough, surrounded by favorable environmental conditions,[2] which prompted the JTWC to issue a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert at 00:30 UTC on 24 March.

[2][3][4][5] Gradually intensifying, Hudah developed an eye with an eyewall primarily in the northern semicircle, indicated by a Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) pass over the system.

[2] Atmospheric divergence remained favorable,[2] and Hudah eventually restrengthened, attaining tropical cyclone intensity at 00:00 UTC on 27 March,[5] while located approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) southeast of Diego Garcia.

[4] Hudah was able to attain an initial peak intensity of 155 km/h (96 mph) at 06:00 UTC on 29 March according to the MFR, shortly after passing 1,010 km (630 mi) south of Diego Garcia.

[2] This period of weakening was short-lived, and Hudah resumed its former strengthening trend by the night of 30 March as shear decreased and convective organization and areal extent increased.

[2][4] After passing 275 km (171 mi) north of Rodrigues Island,[2] Hudah attained intense tropical cyclone status by 12:00 UTC on 31 March.

[6] Shortly after, at 12:00 UTC, the storm was analyzed to have reached its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 225 km/h (140 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 905 mbar (905 hPa; 26.7 inHg), ranking Hudah among some of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the Southwest Indian Ocean.

[4] Cyclone Hudah maintained peak intensity up until it made its first landfall approximately 28 km (17 mi) southeast of Antalaha, Madagascar at 17:30 UTC on 2 April.

[5][7] Hudah substantially weakened as it traversed the mountainous terrain of northern Madagascar, and was downgraded to tropical depression status by the time it entered the Mozambique Channel at 12:00 UTC on 3 April.

[4] As a result of moving back over warm waters, the system began to re-intensify, and attained moderate tropical storm intensity at 00:00 UTC on 4 April.

Despite computer forecast models suggesting that Hudah would continue westward, the storm instead turn to a southward drift, giving it time to strengthen in the Mozambique Channel.

[5] The tropical cyclone accelerated northwards throughout the day, eventually making its final landfall near Pebane, Mozambique at 06:00 UTC on 8 April as a slightly weaker storm.

[5] The JTWC issued its final warning on the system six hours later,[1] as the remnants of Hudah moved through northeastern Mozambique, producing spotty convection.

A weather station on the island maintained by the Mauritius Meteorological Services reported a minimum pressure of roughly 996 mbar (996 hPa; 29.4 inHg) and a maximum sustained wind measurement of 70 km/h (43 mph).

During the night of 1 April, the cyclone passed approximately 35 km (22 mi) south of Tromelin Island, producing strong winds.

[8] Upon making landfall, Hudah impacted the same regions that were affected earlier in the year by Cyclone Leon–Eline and Severe Tropical Storm Gloria.

[13] While Hudah was located in the Mozambique Channel, the cyclone was expected to cause flood conditions in the Mozambican provinces of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, and potentially Zambezia.

[11] Even prior to Hudah, Mozambique was already facing a widespread flood and resultant humanitarian crisis; conditions which were further exacerbated by three tropical cyclones which impacted the country within the previous four months.

[11] The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) maintained 50 soldiers and other military personnel and a number of aircraft to monitor the ongoing floods in Mozambique and potential impacts from Hudah.

[19] The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dispatched a group of 12-member search and rescue team to Maputo in order to train local relief crews.

The storm's strong winds knocked over many trees in its path,[22] mostly in a 10 km (6.2 mi) radius around Pebane, blocking the main road into the city.

[4] In Mozambique, the country's National Institute of Disaster Management distributed 10 tons of food products and plastic housing tents to Pebane, where damage was worst.