Path of Cyclone Freddy across the Indian Ocean
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is considering whether Tropical Storm Freddy should be named the longest-lasting tropical storm on record as it enters its 32nd day.
“Freddie is pretty weird,” says Liz Richie Cho of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Most tropical cyclones are storms that originate in warm waters of the tropics and last only about six to seven days, she says.
Freddy left off the northwest coast of Australia on February 6, then crossed the Indian Ocean more than 7,000 kilometers to reach southeast Africa.
Cyclone Freddy’s long journey continues.
This incredible three-week animation shows the journey. pic.twitter.com/JOpCwsNqnj
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) March 7, 2023
Since making landfall in Madagascar on February 21, the tropical storm has bounced between Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, causing high winds, heavy rains and flooding. Destroyed thousands of homes and killed more than 20 people.
Ritchie-Tyo says Freddie probably lasted so long because the wind conditions around him were unusually weak. Typically, tropical cyclones in this region encounter strong winds that dissipate as they are pushed south over cold water.
The current record holder for the longest tropical cyclone is called John, which lasted 31 days in the Pacific Ocean in 1994.
The WMO says it is convening an expert panel to determine if Freddie broke John’s record.
Freddie has already outlived John, but he sometimes undermines the strength of tropical storms as they pass over land.
“One of the issues we address is the fact that storms regularly fall below tropical cyclone conditions throughout their long lifetimes,” WMO’s Randall Cerveny said in a press release. “If it’s a concern in our assessment, it clearly needs to be addressed.”
This is what many parts of Mozambique look like after Cyclone Freddy. Rains are still falling and most rivers in the central and southern regions of the country are flooding. pic.twitter.com/ggJFQPmgeR
— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) February 28, 2023
To this day, Freddie Over 72 units of cumulative cyclone energy – A measure of cyclone strength over time. This is his second place after a tropical cyclone called Ioke, which in 2006 he generated 85 units.
Freddie also experienced six periods of rapid intensification, meaning wind speed increases of at least 30 knots in 24 hours.
Ritchie-Tyo says Freddy should finally dissipate this weekend. This is because the cyclone has already weakened and is expected to become dry in Mozambique on Saturday morning local time.
“If you land this time, I think you will die quickly,” she says.
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