The system rapidly intensified to become Tropical Cyclone Steve at around 7 am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) (UTC+10) on 27 February 2000.

The cyclone crossed the Queensland coast as a Category 2 system on 27 February to the north of Cairns at around 7 pm AEST.

The low tracked westward and re-intensified to tropical cyclone strength over the Gulf of Carpentaria on the same day at around 10 pm AEST.

The cyclone passed over Mornington Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria and crossed the Northern Territory coast north of Port McArthur on 1 March as a Category 1.

Cyclone Steve moved in a west southwest direction parallel to the Pilbara coast and strengthened further during the day and was upgraded to a Category 2 system early on 6 March.

[2][3] As Steve tracked inland on the north Queensland coast, it caused major flooding between Cairns and Mareeba.

Early estimates indicate that the total damage bill in north Queensland associated with Cyclone Steve may exceed A$100 million.

[1] Rainfall across the Top End, Victoria River region over a four-day period between 29 February to 4 March was between 200 and 400 millimetres (7.9 and 15.7 inches).

[3] The very heavy rainfall associated with Steve produced widespread flooding in northern parts of the state, including the Gascoyne region.

[5] Rainfall ranging from 50 to 100 mm continued over inland parts extending in a south-easterly direction from the west Gascoyne to the south coast near Esperance.