The storm peaked on 25 January as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 978 hPa (28.88 inHg).

The system only produced near-gale-force winds in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) determined that the low was not expected to redevelop into a tropical cyclone.

Kirrily accelerated inland with the rainbands unraveling and warming cloud tops, until it was last noted on the BoM tropical cyclone outlooks on 3 February.

[2] On 9 January, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) noted the possibility of a tropical low forming within the monsoon trough over the Gulf of Carpentaria, designating it as 05U.

[15][16] On 25 January, Kirrily subsequently intensified to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, with estimated maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), and a central barometric pressure of 978 hPa (28.88 inHg).

[22] Towards the end of January, the JTWC began monitoring the remnants of Kirrily for potential regeneration as the system developed a partially exposed low-level circulation center (LLCC).

[24] The remnants later regenerated into a tropical cyclone; the system showed a consolidating LLCC with convective banding and a central dense overcast (CDO).

[26] By 2 February, the JTWC discontinued the issuing of advisories again, as the storm accelerated inland and rapidly decayed further with the rainbands unraveling and warming cloud tops.

[28][29] Before the storm made landfall on 24 January, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued cyclone warnings for Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, and the Whitsunday Islands, which extended inland to Charters Towers.