Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului was first identified by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) late on 9 March 2010 roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) north of Hiw Island, Vanuatu.

[1] Early the following day, the system became sufficiently organised for the FMS to upgrade the disturbance to a tropical depression.

Early on 21 March (local time) it crossed the outlying Whitsunday Islands and made landfall near Airlie Beach, Queensland with winds of 150 km/h (95 mph).

[5] As the storm approached the Solomon Islands, officials advised that most vessels remain at port due to rough seas produced by Ului.

[6] On 16 March, UNICEF announced that they would supply the Solomon Islands with relief funds following the passage of the cyclone.

[8] After Cyclone Ului passed through the Solomon Islands, officials in Queensland, Australia began warning residents about the possibility of the storm making landfall in the region.

Roughly 8,100 people signed up for the competition; however, managers stated that if the swells continued to increase, they may have to relocate the event elsewhere.

[11] These swells were anticipated to be the largest experienced along the Queensland coastline in the past decade and emergency management officials warned residents living along coastal areas that the waves would likely inundate low-lying regions.

As a result, officials evacuated roughly 300 people from the islands of Heron and Lady Elliot, situated about 1,000 km (620 mi) off the Australian mainland.

Residents along the Sunshine Coast were advised to prepare their homes for a possible Category 4 cyclone and stock up on non-perishable foods.

[17] A National Rugby League match in the region threatened by Ului was started roughly two hours early to avoid playing during the storm.

As a result of his death, the water events of the Australian Surf Life Saving championships at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast were cancelled.