Late on 13 April, a developing tropical low crossed over the 90th meridian east from the Australian cyclone region. The environment was generally favourable for tropical cyclogenesis, with warm sea surface temperatures, low vertical wind shear and good poleward upper-level outflow. Microwave satellite imagery indicated that formative convective banding had begun to wrap into the centre of circulation, and the JTWC assessed the probability of the system strengthening into a tropical cyclone as medium. However, MFR reported that there was a lack of substantial convergence from the north in the lower troposphere, which they noted could slow or prevent the development of a strong low-level circulation before environmental conditions became less favourable for strengthening.
