The storm peaked on 23 March as a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 155 km/h (96 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 958 hPa (28.29 inHg).

Although associated convective activity decreased somewhat as the monsoon trough began to weaken, this was offset by the interaction of significant cross-equatorial flow from the Northern Hemisphere with a large area of strong southeasterly wind from the Australian continent.

Reinforced by the effects of a westwards-propagating Rossby wave, the southeasterly wind flow contributed to enhanced atmospheric circulation over the tropical waters.

In addition, the presence of a weak but discernible pulse of the Madden-Julian Oscillation in the Maritime Continent supported the generation of cloudy weather and increased atmospheric instability in the region.

At 18:30 UTC, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, and indicated that the likelihood of rapid intensification over the following days was high.

[9] As Nora passed slowly to the north of the Wessel Islands in a weak steering environment, the already supportive environmental conditions became extremely favourable for strengthening.

[8] A co-located anticyclone in the upper troposphere provided excellent poleward and equatorward outflow channels for the system in an environment of low vertical wind shear, and sea surface temperatures and ocean heat content had both become favourably high.

[13] The BOM upgraded the storm to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone at 09:00 UTC, just after one-minute sustained winds had reached the equivalent of minimal hurricane intensity.

[9] Nora peaked in intensity as it entered the Gulf of Carpentaria, reaching high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone status on the Australian scale.

[14] Shortly after reaching peak intensity, Nora began to undergo an eyewall replacement cycle, causing the intensification trend to cease.

[9][15] Drier air from Cape York Peninsula also became entrained into the circulation as Nora approached the coast, contributing to the storm's decline in intensity.

[8][9] The development of a competing steering environment associated with a strengthening ridge over central Australia caused Ex-Tropical Cyclone Nora to become quasi-stationary from 25 to 27 March.

[19] The BOM indicated that storm surge and large waves posed a potential threat to coastal communities in the path of the system, and that inundation of low-lying areas on the shoreline was possible.

[21][16] The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) assembled several rapid response and swift water rescue teams in preparation for the cyclone.

[22] Despite the region being one of the most cyclone-prone areas of Australia,[23] Mornington Island, located in the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria, did not have a suitable cyclone shelter for residents to evacuate to.

[24] The Queensland Government's closed state schools in Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Karumba and Burketown prior to the arrival of the cyclone in order to protect students and teachers.

Houses, community homes, other government buildings, the local school and personal property such as corrugated iron sheds sustained damage from the strong winds.

[25] Queensland Health reported that the medical clinics in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama had both sustained damage; however, this was deemed to be only superficial in nature, and they were able to reopen the day after the cyclone.

[25][21] Several roads in other parts of Cape York Peninsula and Far North Queensland were also affected by floodwaters, such as near the towns of Coen, Lockhart River and Croydon.

[8] Concerns were initially held for a boat that had ventured into the northern Gulf of Carpentaria during the cyclone; however, all passengers were accounted for after contact was made with the captain.

The BOM issued a flood watch for all areas from Townsville to Cape Tribulation, and a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall for large parts of the region.

[8] After strengthening into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, Nora produced a short period of sustained gale-force winds at Cape Wessel, north of the Gove Peninsula, peaking with a gust of 83 km/h (52 mph).

[27] After the adverse weather had cleared, local police officers in Kowanyama rounded up the livestock that had escaped their enclosures during the cyclone, including a bull and a horse.

Additional police officers from Cairns were deployed to the worst-affected Far North Queensland communities during the two weeks following the cyclone to assist residents with clean up efforts.

[43][21] To assist in the recovery effort, the Queensland Government provided funding to residents and farmers who had been directly impacted by the event, as well as to local councils in the affected areas.

[50] This money was able to be used for repairing essential household items such as refrigerators and washing machines, as well to assist those who had encountered financial hardship as a result of the cyclone to purchase food and clothing.

[45][48] Councils in a total of 14 local government areas were able to access disaster assistance money to repair damaged assets such as roads, and to aid in clean up efforts such as the removal of debris.

[52] In September 2018, the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council was given a grant of AU$1.1 million (US$840,000) in order to fund economic growth and jobs in the region, to establish a new road and construction unit, and to improve the area's disaster recovery capabilities.