Forming out of an area of low pressure on June 14, the storm briefly attained tropical depression status before degenerating.

On June 10, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring a persistent area of convection situated about 140 kilometres (85 mi) southeast of Palau.

Satellite imagery depicted an elongated low-level circulation with deep convection centered along the southwestern portion of the system.

[1] Tracking in a general northwestward direction, the low gradually developed northward outflow due to a tropical upper tropospheric trough (TUTT) located north of the disturbance.

[9] Several hours later, the JTWC designated the system as Tropical Depression 03W while the storm was situated about 705 km (440 mi) south-southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

By this time, the storm began to increase in forward motion due to a strengthening subtropical ridge located east of Taiwan and a mid-latitude trough to the west.

[15] Interacting with a nearby upper-level low, poleward outflow significantly improved late on June 19, fueling further strengthening.

[17] A small, ragged eye appeared on visible satellite images by this time and several hours later, the storm reached its peak intensity just below typhoon-status according to the JMA.

[20] Taking a more northward track than anticipated, Linfa began to interact with land and was downgraded to a tropical storm by the JTWC on June 21.

[27] Although Linfa was not forecast to directly impact the Philippines, the outer effects of the storm were anticipated to produce increased rainfall and large swells along western facing coastlines.

[28] By June 20, the Central Weather Bureau issued extremely heavy rain warnings, indicating 24-hour rainfall totals in excess of 130 mm (5.1 in) were anticipated, for most of Taiwan.

[29] Beaches throughout Taiwan were closed due to rough seas and local officials inspected all public shelters to ensure they were stocked and prepared to provide for evacuees.

[35] In Hong Kong, public warning signal number one was raised for nearly 24 hours as Linfa briefly threatened the city on June 20.

[38] On June 21, large swells of up to 5.6 m (18 ft) caused a 498-tonne oil tanker, the Colombo Queen, to run aground in southern Taiwan.

[47] In mainland China, Linfa produced torrential rains, peaking at 488.1 mm (19.22 in) and triggering severe flooding.

[52] In Meizhou, Guongdong Province, flash flooding resulted in five additional fatalities after 413.7 mm (16.29 in) of rain fell within a nine-hour span.