Quickly organizing due to the conditions, Nilofar developed a well-defined eye and structure, attaining its peak intensity on October 28.

However, high wind shear caused the storm to rapidly weaken, and Nilofar degraded into a remnant low-pressure area on October 31 off the Indian state of Gujarat.

Despite moderate wind shear, conditions favored further development, including warm water temperatures and good outflow,[3] amplified by an anticyclone to its east-northeast.

[5] At 00:00 UTC on October 25, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a depression about 1270 km (790 mi) southeast of Muscat, Oman.

[2] By 12:00 UTC on October 25, the system organized enough for the JTWC to classify it as Tropical Cyclone 04A, and there were hints of an eye feature within the thunderstorms.

[2] At 00:00 UTC on October 27, the JTWC upgraded Nilofar to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane, based on the development of a 54 km (33 mi) eye.

Also by that time, tropical cyclone forecast models anticipated that Nilofar would eventually recurve to the northeast and make landfall in western India.

The storm was rapidly intensifying at the time, after the wind shear had decreased,[2] and the eye contracted to a diameter of 19 km (12 mi).

[2][nb 1] Six hours later, the JTWC estimated peak 1-minute winds of 215 km/h (130 mph);[5] at the time, the agency anticipated further strengthening due to the favorable conditions and good organization.

[16] Later that day, the center began decoupling from the convection, a sign of rapid weakening,[17] and by 21:00 UTC the IMD downgraded it to a severe cyclonic storm.

[22] In the storm's developmental stages, the outskirts of Nilofar dropped 410 mm (16 in) of rainfall in Margao, Goa,[2] helping the state record its wettest October in four years.

[32] Shifting air patterns brought cooler temperatures to western India, signaling the end of the monsoon season,[33] while also bringing haze and smog over Delhi from polluting areas to the south.