At 0400 UTC on 5 December, TCWC Perth, having assumed local area responsibilities for the tracking of the storm, determined the system to have strengthened into a tropical cyclone; thus, the warning center assigned the name "Sam" to the storm.
December, TCWC Perth, having assumed local area responsibilities for the tracking of the storm, determined the system to have strengthened into a tropical cyclone; thus, the warning center assigned the name "Sam" to the storm. This was at 0400 UTC on 5.