These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the southern Pacific Ocean east of 160°E.

The South Pacific Basin, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization, is split into two sub-areas, monitored by separate agencies.

[1] At the start of the season, a new naming policy was introduced by the Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South- East Indian Ocean.

Approximately $51.3 million in damage was attributed to Waka as well as an indirect fatality, the only tropical cyclone-related death of the year, due to cardiac arrest.

Due to unfavorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis, the storm struggled to develop significant convection, preventing it from intensifying beyond 65 km/h (40 mph).

After finally succumbing to wind shear on December 2, the system weakened to a tropical depression near Mangaia and dissipated several days later.

[2] Due to the slow movement of the storm, it produced substantial rainfall over the island of Mangaia, resulting in some of the worst flooding in 50 years.

Subsequently, Waka underwent rapid intensification in which it attained its peak intensity as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on December 31, with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph).

[8] In addition to infrastructural and public losses, the environment was also severely affected; a native species of bats lost roughly 80% of its population due to the lack of fruit.

Over the following two days, convection managed to persist along the northern edge of the system's center of circulation and on December 24, the FMS classified the low as Tropical Cyclone Vicky.

Over the following several days, the depression drifted southward before entering the mid-latitude westerlies and re-intensifying into a strong extratropical cyclone well to the south of French Polynesia.

[2] On December 31, the FMS began monitoring a new tropical depression, classified as 05F, roughly 600 km (370 mi) east-northeast of the Solomon Islands.

Situated within a monsoon trough and on the edge of an anticyclone, convection associated with the disturbance was limited to the north and eastern sides.

By February 23, deep convection began consolidating around the newly formed center in response to weak diffluence aloft and moderate wind shear.

Still embedded within the monsoon trough, the JTWC issued a TCFA early on February 24 and their first advisory on Tropical Depression 16P roughly 12 hours later.

Continued shearing of the system left the low-level center fully exposed by February 26 and prompted the JTWC to issue their final warning on the depression.

[14] Following a pattern similar to the formation of Cyclone Claudia, Des formed out of an area of disturbed weather east of Australia in late February.

During March 5, Des underwent a brief period of rapid intensification,[2] attaining its peak strength of 60 mph (97 km/h) with a minimum pressure of 985 mbar (hPa; 29.09 inHg).

[12] Initially, the storm was forecast to impact New Caledonia; however, a mid-level ridge to the northeast forced the system to the southeast, sparing the island of a direct hit.

Due to the storm's proximity to the mountains of New Caledonia and less favorable environmental conditions, Des began to weaken on March 6.

[2] Early on March 13, a persistent area of convection, accompanied by a weak low-level circulation, was noted roughly 520 km (320 mi) west of Vanuatu.

Early on March 14, the JTWC issued a TCFA and later their first advisory on Tropical Storm 19P as deep convection increased in coverage and organization around the low.

[19] During the evening hours, an eye-like feature appeared on satellite imagery, and the system simultaneously was estimated to have reached again a peak intensity, but now as a subtropical storm.

[21] Tracking westward, the system attained a peak intensity of 45 km/h (28 mph) with a minimum pressure of 1000 mbar (hPa; 29.53 inHg) before weakening took place.

Between January 21 and 24, gale warnings were issued in association with the cyclone due to a strong pressure gradient between it and an anticyclone to the south.

[11] Tracking generally southwestward, the system slowly deepened, attaining a minimum pressure of 997 mbar (hPa; 29.44 inHg) early on January 27 before the FMS discontinued advisories on the storm.

The last cyclone of the season, Tropical Depression 16F, formed on April 17 about 595 km (370 mi) north-northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Aided by favorable diffluence aloft, deep convection developed over the center of the system, prompting the JTWC to issue a TCFA on March 22.

However, several hours later, increasing wind shear displaced the convection from the center of circulation and redevelopment was deemed unlikely as the cyclone moved over cooler waters.