As it moved to the west and later south as the result of a subtropical ridge under favourable conditions, the cyclone was able to rapidly intensify.

In early December, a monsoon trough north of Australia intensified due to a strong northwest cross–equatorial surge in the South China Sea.

[3] As it moved towards the west and subsequently southwards, improving upper–air divergence allowed the system to intensify, reaching tropical cyclone intensity on the evening of 11 December and thus attaining the name John.

Due to the presence of a subtropical ridge to the east over Australia, Cyclone John was forecast to generally move in a south-southwestward direction.

[4] At peak intensity, the storm had maximum 10–minute sustained wind speeds of 205 km/h (130 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 915 mbar (27.0 inHg).

Moving towards the Australian coastline, radar imagery from Dampier, Western Australia showed a strong eyewall associated with John.

[1] Cyclone John made landfall near Whim Creek, Western Australia at 0030 UTC on 15 December with a minimum central pressure between 930 and 940 mbar (27.46–27.46 inHg),[6] and around 30 minutes later had maximum 10–minute sustained winds of 85 knots (155 km/h; 100 mph).

The entirety of the cyclone's eye crossed the coast by 0200 UTC as the storm moved further inland into an area of wind shear and dry air, which caused it to rapidly weaken.

[1] Prior to Cyclone John's landfall, hundreds of people were evacuated from homes, primarily in Karratha,[7] where two shelters were set up.

[9] TCWC Perth began issuing hourly warnings for potentially affected areas beginning at 1400 UTC on 14 December.

[12] Production from an oil field off the coast of northwest Australia were down 38%, partly due to being shut down in preparation for Cyclone John.