Sagar's rainfall extended into eastern Ethiopia, damaging schools and houses, and causing a landslide that killed 23 people.

On May 16, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the low as a depression at 12:00 UTC about 200 km (120 mi) northeast of Cape Guardafui, Somalia.

Otherwise, environmental conditions favored further strengthening as the storm moved northwestward, steered by a ridge to the northeast and the flow of the regional geography.

[8] Late on May 18, the IMD estimated that Sagar attained peak 3 minute sustained winds of 85 km/h (55 mph), based on the organized structure on satellite imagery.

[10] As Sagar approached the coastline of the western Gulf of Aden, the convection to the south of the storm's center weakened.

[15] Along its rare trajectory through the Gulf of Aden, Cyclonic Storm Sagar affected Socotra and coastal Yemen, Somaliland, Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

[19] Yemen's temporary capital Aden was hit by strong winds as Sagar approached, and authorities evacuated residents near the coast.

[20] In Puntland in northern Somalia and Somaliland, officials warned residents about the storm on the radio and mobile communications.

Following a protracted drought, parts of eastern Africa experienced severe floods in the months before the storm's arrival.

Thousands of farmers faced food insecurity when the floods wrecked 700 farms, with 277 hectares (680 acres) of arable land destroyed.

[26][24] In Djibouti, northwest of Somaliland, Sagar dropped a year's worth of rainfall, totaling 110 mm (4.3 in), which caused rivers to swell.

[28] In the Somali Region of eastern Ethiopia, Sagar produced strong winds and heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding and landslides.

[31][32][33] Following the storm's passage through Somalia, non-governmental organizations provided food, clothing, cash, blankets, and other emergency supplies.

[34] Armed conflict in the Sool and Sanaag regions prevented humanitarian response from reaching affected residents who fled the violence and the storm.

[36] With donations from multiple countries, the Somalia Humanitarian Fund helped restore schools, hospitals, and water supply.

UNICEF provided water pumps to drain floodwaters from the schools, while the Djibouti Armed Forces assisted in clearing roads.