Most of the activity during the season occurred within the central and eastern parts of the basin with French Polynesia affected by several systems.

[3] During the season, several tropical cyclones formed to the east of the International Dateline and out towards 120°W, which caused significant problems for the FMS, as the eastern edge of its satellite coverage was restricted to around 155°W.

[2] The season was characterised by a very strong El Niño event, which resulted in eleven tropical cyclones occurring to the east of the International Dateline.

[8][9] During November 3, the FMS reported that Joti had peaked with 10-minute sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), which made it a Category 2 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale.

[8][9] The JTWC subsequently reported that the system had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the SSHWS.

[11] During December 10, a shallow tropical depression formed to the west of the Northern Cook Island of Penrhyn and started to move south-eastwards towards French Polynesia.

[15] The system subsequently moved in a counter clockwise loop, which allowed it to develop further and it was declared to be a tropical cyclone and named Nisha by the FMS during February 22.

[15] Over the next day, the system started to move south-westwards, while it rapidly intensified, with the FMS estimating 10-minute sustained wind-speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph) during February 24.

[15] During that day the system sharply turned south-eastwards and started to gradually weaken, before it was last noted during February 28, as it moved out of the FMS's area of responsibility, while equivalent to a modern-day category 1 tropical cyclone.

[17][18] The system was named Prema by the FMS during the next day, after it had developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone and peaked, with 10-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph).

[18] Prema brought strong to gale-force winds and high seas to the Northern Cook Islands of Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Pukapula.

[17] Heavy rain and gale-force winds of up to 100 km/h (60 mph), caused minor damage to French Polynesia's Leeward and Society Islands.

[citation needed] Rewa exacerbated the destruction caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Nisha/Orama earlier in the season and destroyed more than 200 houses.

[22] The system subsequently gradually deepened as it moved south-eastwards and passed to the west of the island, before it was named Sarah by the FMS during March 24, after it had developed into a tropical cyclone.

During March 27, the FMS started to monitor a depression that had developed, within a trough of low pressure about 235 km (145 mi) to the northeast of Penrhyn in the Northern Cook Islands.

[23][24] Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-westwards and passed about 140 km (85 mi) to the southeast of Penhryn, as it gradually developed into a tropical cyclone.

[23] Early on March 31, the NPMOC reported that the cyclone had peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), which made it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the SSHWS.