Prior to 1985, the Australian region basin was defined as in the southern hemisphere between 80°E and 160°E, with the modern day season boundaries ranging from 1 November to 30 April of the following year.

During and in the few days after making landfall in Queensland on 31 December, produced heavy precipitation in the state, becoming one of the rainiest tropical cyclones in Australia.

The storm dissipated shortly after striking Queensland on 12 January, bringing rainfall and rough seas.

The storm brought rough seas and strong winds to Western Australia, resulting in $20 million in damage and 15 deaths after a fishing boat capsized.

[3] Thus, seven cyclones developed in the Australian region[3][4][5] – defined as the southern hemisphere between 80°E and 160°E – until Météo-France's Réunion area of responsibility and BOM adjusted the boundary eastward to 90°E in 1985.

[3] There was a total of eleven coastal crossings, which is either a landfall or a tropical cyclone moving from land to sea.

Another flight mission was conducted for observing Cyclone Rosa as the storm was making landfall in Northern Territory on 26 February.

Likewise, there were two tropical cyclones in the month of February, Rosa and Kerry, both of which existed simultaneously for almost three weeks.

The former was the most intense tropical cyclone of the season, peaking with 10-minute maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (135 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 935 mbar (27.6 inHg).

The cyclone headed southwestward and intensified further on 20 November, peaking with 1-minute sustain winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) by 06:00 UTC.

Thereafter, the storm began weakening and dissipated early on 23 November, while situated about 1,210 km (750 mi) southwest of Cocos Islands.

[4] Another unnamed cyclone, designated as 03S, developed on 20 December while located about 1,055 km (656 mi) west-northwest of North Keeling.

Several hours later, the system entered the southwest Indian Ocean basin, where it dissipated on 26 December.

After reaching the Pacific Ocean near Cooktown, the storm decelerated and meandered offshore,[9] but dissipated about 105 km (65 mi) north of Cape Melville.

[3] A weak low-pressure area associated with the remnants of Peter developed into a tropical disturbance over the Gulf of Carpentaria on 8 January.

The city of Weipa recorded a barometric pressure of 986 mbar (29.1 inHg), the lowest in relation to Greta.

[15] While traversing the Cape York Peninsula, the cyclone weakened, falling to Category 1 intensity by midday on 10 January.

[16] Eventually, Greta curved southward and briefly moved offshore, before making another landfall near Princess Charlotte Bay early on 11 January.

[16] Greta brought rainfall to portions of the Cape York Peninsula flooded during the passage of Cyclone Peter, but the former resulted in much less damage than the latter.

[17] Around that time, the cyclone attained its peak intensity while in the basin, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h (45 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 990 mbar (29 inHg).

[3] A persistent cluster of clouds over the South Pacific basin developed into a tropical low, named Rosa, near the Solomon Islands on 12 February.

Early on 26 February, Rosa peaked with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (95 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 955 mbar (28.2 inHg).

A reconnaissance flight into the cyclone recorded winds of 170 km/h (105 mph) at an altitude of 540 m (1,770 ft), while located about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of the eye early on 26 February.

At Bing Bong, the water level rose an estimated 2 m (6.6 ft) above the spring high tide mark.

Trees in extensive tracts of forests were felled, especially in the Roper-McArthur district, which stretches from the Roper to McArthur rivers.

Late on 28 February, the cyclone struck the Whitsunday Islands as a Category 1 and later made multiple landfalls on the mainland as a tropical low on 1 March.