The system was first noted on 3 December 1991, as a shallow tropical depression that was embedded within the monsoon trough, to the north of the Cook Island: Rarotonga.

The French Polynesian Government subsequently borrowed FF55 million and built up a fund from local banks of about FF1.5 billion, to help with the reconstruction.

On 3 December, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) started to monitor a tropical depression, that was embedded within a monsoon trough of low pressure over the Northern Cook Islands.

[6] Over the next day, gale-force winds persisted within the depression's southeastern quadrant, as it moved towards the east-northeast and into warmer waters near the Tuamotu Islands.

[1][6] By 13 December, the NWOC issued their final warning on the system, before the FMS reported during the next day that Wasa had regenerated into a tropical cyclone.

[2][6] However, for convenience, operational purposes and to avoid any potential confusion among recipients of the warnings, the FMS decided to rename the system: Arthur.

[6][7] Over the next day, Wasa-Arthur maintained its intensity as it moved north-eastwards through the northern islands of the Acteon Group, before the NWOC classified the system as Tropical Cyclone 08P during 15 December.

[2][7] Wasa-Arthur subsequently started to gradually weaken as it turned eastwards, before the FMS and the NWOC reported that it had degenerated into a depression on 17 December.

[9] The system brought strong winds, flooding, heavy rain, high seas, swells and a storm surge to the island nation.

[5] In Tubuai, the local school and police station were destroyed by high waves, which also damaged stretches of the coastal highway.

[15] During the aftermath of the cyclone, a French Military cargo plane and several helicopters carried out initial relief efforts to several of the islands affected by Wasa, before the French Polynesian Government and private cargo ships continued the effort, by carrying emergency relief supplies and reconstruction materials.