analysis and synthesis of tropical cyclone freddy

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

University of Reading Cookie Policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience. Find out more about our cookie policy . By continuing to use our site you accept these terms, and are happy for us to use cookies to improve your browsing experience.

Continue using the University of Reading website

Expert comment: 'zombie storm’ Freddy could come back

09 March 2023

Mozambique is once again set to be hit by Tropical Cyclone Freddy - but this might not be the last time it emerges. 

The rare ‘zombie storm’ has already hit the Southern African nation once with heavy rainfall and floods, killing four people according to reports . 

Now officially the longest-lived storm ever recorded having spun over the Indian Ocean for 32 days, a storms expert at the University of Reading said Freddy could come back to life once again even after it hits Mozambique for second time. 

Dr Liz Stephens, a hydrologist based at the University of Reading, said: “Tropical Cyclone Freddy is now the longest-lived storm ever recorded, having formed off the coast of Australia back in early February and still going strong. Having navigated the whole Indian Ocean it ripped across Madagascar and caused severe flooding across Southern Mozambique and into Zimbabwe. 

“Usually, this interaction with the land would tear apart a storm, but Freddy re-emerged in the Mozambique channel. This is a zombie storm that came back to life, impacted southern Madagascar again, and is now threatening central Mozambique and southern Malawi with new heavy rainfall and floods.

“Freddy will be making its second landfall in Mozambique at a time when the tide is at its highest, causing concern that the combination of high river and sea levels will impact coastal cities with the type of compound flooding seen in 2019 from the devastating Cyclone Idai. 

“Effective early warning systems have limited the loss of life so far, but the repeated landfalls across different parts of the region are posing a real challenge for effective disaster management and emergency response. And this may not be the end of zombie Freddy; there's still a chance it could once again re-emerge in the Mozambique channel."

Subjects A-B

• Agriculture
• Ancient History
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Architecture
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biomedical Sciences
• Bioveterinary Sciences
• Building and Surveying
• Business and Management

Subjects C-E

• Classics and Classical Studies
• Climate Science
• Computer Science
• Construction Management
• Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
• Creative Writing
• Criminology
• Engineering
• English Language and Applied Linguistics
• English Literature
• Environment

Subjects F-G

• Film & Television
• Foundation programmes
• Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

• International Development
• International Foundation Programme (IFP)
• International Relations
• Languages and Cultures
• Linguistics
• Mathematics
• Medical Sciences
• Meteorology and Climate
• Microbiology
• Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

• Pharmacology
• Physician Associate Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Real Estate and Planning
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Surveying and Construction
• Theatre & Performance

Subjects U-Z

• Wildlife Conservation

Subjects A-C

• Business (Post-Experience)
• Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
• Classics and Ancient History
• Construction Management and Engineering
• Consumer Behaviour
• Creative Enterprise

Subjects D-G

• Data Science
• Energy and Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Film, Theatre and Television
• Food and Nutritional Sciences
• Geography and Environmental Science
• Graphic Design

Subjects H-P

• Information Management and Digital Business
• Information Technology
• International Development and Applied Economics
• Physician Associate
• Project Management
• Public Policy

Subjects Q-Z

• Social Policy
• Strategic Studies
• Teacher training
• Typography and Graphic Communication
• War and Peace Studies
• Architectural Engineering

We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2025/26 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2024/25 courses.

How Tropical Cyclone Freddy became one of the most energetic, long-lasting storms on record

On February 6, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Freddy was named off the West Australian coast before strengthening rapidly and heading west over open waters.

Key points:

• TC Freddy, which formed off Australia, is one of the most energetic cyclones in recorded history
• Meteorologists consider its long-lasting path to southern Africa to be "remarkable"
• La Niña, a second cyclone and radical steering winds, is likely to have played a role in extending its life

Thirty-six days later it was still going, becoming one of the most energetic and long-lasting cyclones in history.

"We never thought it was going to turn into the event that it has, back in early February," the Bureau of Meteorology's Craig Earl-Spurr said.

The deadly storm system traversed the entire Indian Ocean, travelling more than 8,000 kilometres and devastating Southern Africa as it barrelled over Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique.

Freddy became one of the most energetic storms on record by measure of its wind strength over its lifetime — known as accumulated cyclone energy.

It rapidly intensified several times, and could end up the longest-lasting cyclone in recorded history.

This is under assessment by the World Meteorological Organization, with the current record of 31 days set by Hurricane John in 1994.

So what gave it so much stamina and strength?

Fuelled by westerly track

Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre La Réunion head of operations Sébastien Langlade said one of the key reasons it maintained its strength was its westerly track, which helped keep TC Freddy over warmer waters.

"What happens usually is the system tracks toward [the south] where the waters are not warm enough and where the atmospheric conditions become hostile," he said.

"But this was not the case this time.

"The system was embedded within an environment that prevented him from going too far to the south and losing the warm waters."

Dr Langlade said this had only happened twice before in the Indian Ocean.

Intense TC Leon-Eline made its way from north-west Australia to southern Africa during February, 2000, while Intense TC Hudah later that year also traversed the entire Indian Ocean.

Like Freddy, these two cyclones occurred in a La Niña year.

A possible La Niña influence

Dr Langlade said La Niña was known to favour the track of tropical cyclones oriented toward the west.

"And even though La Niña is off now, it was the case during the last month and the two previous tropical cyclone seasons," he said.

"And we observed several westward tracks [of cyclones].

"But the example of Freddy is an extreme one."

Dr Langlade said it was also possible another tropical cyclone, Dingani, which was in the southern Indian Ocean at the time, "indirectly" influenced Freddy's path to the west.

"It's possible that we had an indirect influence of Dingani that created a strengthening of the sub-tropical ridge to the east of Dingani and kept Freddy on a westward track all the way through the Indian Ocean," he said.

But like many other aspects of Freddy, he said, it would need further research to know for sure.

Prolonged by 'radical' looping path

Dr Langlade said the erratic path of TC Freddy when it reached the Mozambique channel also extended its life considerably.

It was during this period of the cyclone that it was most destructive, barrelling over south-eastern Africa twice.

Hundreds of people were killed as it made impact, with reports whole villages were washed away without a trace.

On February 21 the system made landfall over Madagascar and continued westward, striking Mozambique on February 24.

It then looped back into the Mozambique channel and redeveloped.

Freddy then completed a third U-turn toward the Mozambique coast, where it struck for a second time.

"This part of the track is something that is quite unusual," Dr Langlade said.

"What we have seen is that the steering flow, which drives the track of the cyclone, shift radically over a couple of days."

Dr Langlade said the rapid change in direction extended the duration of the cyclone's life by about 10 days.

"It was like Freddy and Freddy 2.0," he said

"And, unfortunately, we found a case of a rare and extreme event that affected the most vulnerable people on the planet."

Climate change links unclear

Dr Langlade said the length and strength of TC Freddy was truly "remarkable" and warranted further research, especially in regards to any links to climate change.

"There is a question of how this kind of motion could be more frequent in a warmer climate in the future, and if it's linked to climate change or not," he said.

CSIRO climate scientist Kathleen McInnes authored the latest IPCC Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere , which looked into the way tropical cyclones could be attributed to climate change.

She said the cyclone's strength was consistent with trends of climate change.

"In general, there is a consensus that there will be fewer cyclones but once they've formed they can potentially be stronger," Dr McInnes said.

But Dr McInnes said it was less clear how climate change might have played a role in TC Freddy's longevity.

"It's a long track and I don't believe it was a fast moving cyclone, so that is kind of consistent with some early findings that have been [made] that cyclones may be slower under climate change," she said.

"But I think it's a bit too early to say anything."

Dr McInnes said in the months to years ahead there would be "a lot of research" on TC Freddy and its various attributes and characteristics in the context of the changing climate and changing ocean conditions.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Cyclone freddy survivors describe 'coffins lined up' and whole villages washed away.

• Climate Change

Search form

Mozambique response plan: cyclone freddy, floods & cholera (march - september 2023), attachments.

Overview of the situation

More than a million people across eight provinces of Mozambique – Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Sofala, Tete and Zambezia are bearing the brunt of the compounding effect of cholera, floods and cyclone Freddy. Freddy displaced over 184,000 people, who have sought shelter in accommodation centers across the affected districts. Cyclone Freddy destroyed over 129,000 homes, leaving more than 640,000 people homeless. The impact of the multiple crises, on top of the emergency in northern Mozambique, means that every province of Mozambique is affected.

Tropical cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting and most energetic tropical cyclone on record, hit Mozambique twice, on 24 February and 11 March, with destructive winds and extreme rainfall. Freddy accumulated cyclone energy (index used to measure the energy released by a tropical cyclone) the equivalent of an average full North Atlantic hurricane season. Rainfall over the areas crossed by cyclone Freddy were on average 200 to 300 mm a day and reaching as high as 600 mm in some areas. An average rainy season across different areas of Mozambique’s range between 600 and 1,000 mm a day over six months.

Freddy’s second landfall exacerbated flooding from Freddy’s first passage and from heavy seasonal rains as rivers and the ground were already full and saturated. Southern Mozambique received more than a year's worth of rainfall in February. The storm first made landfall in southern Mozambique on 24 February.

It spent several days tracking over Mozambique and Zimbabwe, bringing heavy rains and flooding. It then looped back towards the Mozambique Channel and picked up energy from the warm waters and moved towards the south- western coast of Madagascar and then back towards Mozambique, where it entered again on 11 March. Accurate early warnings by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and coordinated disaster management on the ground prevented even greater loss of life. The anticipated magnitude of the cyclone led the Government of Mozambique to declare a red alert on 21 February in order to enable processes to respond to the emergency to be expedited and simplified. Thousands of people were moved to accommodation centres as precaution while rescue teams, food supplies, tents, and boats were put in place to support the aftermath. The storm generated significant damage to infrastructure, including houses, schools, and health facilities. Water systems, sanitation facilities as well as water supply infrastructures and latrines in communities and institutions were flooded and damaged. Water sources were contaminated. A key road linking northern and southern Mozambique along with many feeder roads were temporarily cut off depriving populations from much needed health care, social services and affecting trade.

Flooding in southern Mozambique, Cyclone Freddy and associated flooding had a massive humanirtarian and socio-economic impact as 391,000 hectares of land were affected (INGD). Given the land tenure pattern, with average landholdings of one hectare this could mean that more than a million people are affected by crop losses. The significant crop loss right before the main harvest, has affected areas already highly food insecure as per the latest IPC.

There are 3.15 million people in IPC 3 and above in Mozambique. Flooding has had a significant impact in southern Mozambique, where there are two planting seasons including a short planting season in April-May.

These conditions accelerated a cholera outbreak that had been growing since September 2022. The first case of cholera was reported from Lago district in Niassa province on14 September 2022. As of 29 March, there are more than 19,000 cases. Cholera has affected 38 districts and eight provinces out of a total of 161 districts and 11 provinces. The cholera outbreak in Mozambique has been categorized by WHO as a multi-region Grade 3 Public Health Emergency, requiring a major WHO response. The Grade 3 categorization – the highest level within WHO’s grading system – was made considering the scale of the outbreak, the potential for further international spread, the rapidity of spread, and the lack of adequate response capacity. Low levels of access to safe drinking water and sanitation and hygiene facilities and a fragile surveillance system, are contributing to conditions that drive the spread of the cholera throughout the first quarter of the year.

The HRP Addendum takes into consideration that humanitarian crises have been affecting differently women and girls as well as men and boys of different age groups and abilities. Humanitarian organisations will guarantee that all assistance is designed to be accessible for all and that the voice of all affected populations is heard and considered before, during and after the interventions.

Southern Africa: Cyclone Freddy aftermath brings diseases, healthcare gaps

Facebook Twitter Print Email

Southern African countries hit hard by tropical Cyclone Freddy are reeling from disease outbreaks, with health services stretched to the limit, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

The devastation caused by the cyclone in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique has increased the spread of cholera and malaria, as well as malnutrition.

Meanwhile, more than 300 health facilities have been destroyed or flooded in the three countries, limiting health care access.

The cyclone’s destruction increased public health risks including a surge in the spread of cholera, malaria, malnutrition, COVID-19 , and other vaccine-treatable diseases.

WHO continues to support efforts to control the #cholera outbreaks in #Malawi 🇲🇼 & #Mozambique 🇲🇿, including setting up or revamping 26 cholera treatment centres & units where patients receive quality & efficient health care. https://t.co/9YWgGcsnix World Health Organization (WHO) WHO March 23, 2023

WHO said that Malawi was still in the midst of its “worst-ever” cholera outbreak, although cases are declining. In Mozambique, cholera cases have more than doubled over the past week, to almost 2,400 .

“ With a double landfall in less than a month, the impact of Cyclone Freddy is immense and deepfelt ”, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.

“While we work to understand the full extent of the devastation, our priority is to ensure that affected communities and families receive health assistance for immediate needs as well as to limit the risks of water-borne diseases and other infections spreading,”

Helping communities prepare for climatic hazards

Overall, flooding, and torrential rains have affected more than 1.4 million people in the three countries. WHO and partners are providing support in the form of cholera treatment centers, medical supplies, and health worker training.

WHO has provided U$7.9 million and sent over 60 experts to the affected countries to assist with the emergency response.

Around 184 tons of important medical supplies have been shipped to support the cyclone and cholera emergency response. In Malawi, WHO has redistributed cholera response operation centres to hotspot districts, to help disease control efforts.

“With the rise in climate-related health emergencies in Africa, it’s clear that more needs to be done to bolster preparedness to climatic hazards so that communities can better cope with the impacts of the devastating natural disasters,” said Dr Moeti.

The cholera outbreaks are currently affecting 14 African countries and are being made worse by extreme climate events and conflicts that leave countries more vulnerable. Many people have been forced to flee their homes, to face uncertain living conditions.

• Cyclone Freddy

Climate intelligence at work: the case of Cyclone Freddy

• Marina Menga
• April 19, 2023

Cyclone Freddy has recently made the headlines worldwide because of its destructive impacts on land and its record-breaking intensity. Indeed, Freddy had quite a peculiar behaviour. It developed near the western coast of Australia at the beginning of February 2023, and it crossed the Southern Indian Ocean westward, reaching the eastern coast of Africa over a few weeks. It made a first landfall on Madagascar, crossed the Channel and made landfall over the coast of Mozambique.

Typically, cyclones are fed by heat and energy from the ocean, so they lose intensity when they touch land and tend to dissipate. Unusually, instead of dissipating after landfall, Freddy travelled back to the ocean, where it gained more energy and inverted its direction, hitting land again over the coast of Mozambique and then over Malawi. This uncommon behavior made it the longest tropical Cyclone ever recorded, with a duration of 38 days , beating the previous record of 30 days by more than a week and travelling a total distance of more than 8,000 kilometres.

Freddy is now also recognized as the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a metric which expresses the energy released by a tropical cyclone during its lifetime.

This metric is particularly convenient because it gives an estimate of both the cyclone’s intensity, which is typically its maximum velocity, and its duration, giving a measure of the dissipated energy, which is more representative of the cyclone’s overall activity. According to NASA , Freddy is the highest-ACE-producing tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide.

Unfortunately, Cyclone Freddy stood out also for its violence and destructive force, being the third-deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, after Cyclone Idai in 2019 and Flores cyclone in 1973. It produced extraordinarily heavy rains, strong winds, and excessive flooding, destroying houses, crops, and infrastructures, primarily in Mozambique and Malawi.

The death toll in South-East Africa is estimated to be hundreds, with Malawi being the most affected country. The cyclone further compromised communities already struggling with the spread of cholera and often lacking an adequate healthcare system to respond to emergencies.

As reported by Reuters , Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera said that “the death toll from Cyclone Freddy has risen sharply to more than 1,000 people”. Hundreds of people are still missing in the region, and more than half a million are displaced.

The role of climate change

But do these extremes follow an overall tendency in worsening extreme climate events? And is this caused by climate change?

Attribution science, or extreme event attribution, is a relatively recent field in climate science that tries to quantitatively determine if an extreme weather event was caused or worsened by climate change or was simply due to natural variations.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had already warned in its reports about an expected rise in intense precipitations, floods, mean wind speed and tropical cyclones, with stronger associated precipitations, in the areas of South-East Africa and Madagascar.

However, it is not always easy to clearly determine if climate change plays a crucial role in the occurrence of an extreme event, and rigorous analyses are not yet available in the case of Cyclone Freddy.

There are mainly two ways to do an attribution analysis for an event such as a tropical cyclone.

The first is of a statistical kind: analyzing the number, frequency, intensity, and impacts of extreme events like Freddy that happen in the present, and making a comparison with the same parameters from pre-industrial times, can give an estimate of the possible influence of climate change on these phenomena.

Another way is to analyse a particular storm through model simulations under different conditions typical of the past, the present, and the future. This will point out under which climate scenario a storm would be more likely.

Climate Intelligence

“Many studies have been carried out at CMCC to try and understand the effects of climate change on tropical cyclones,” says Enrico Scoccimarro of the Climate Simulations and Prediction (CSP) division at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) . “On one hand, it is true that with a warmer climate we have a more stable atmosphere, and thus we expect less tropical cyclones. On the other hand, however, it is also true that a higher availability of energy in the ocean leads to more intense storms. Moreover, if a storm happens to go back to the ocean, it has a higher probability to re-strengthen and hit land again, and this is just what happened with Freddy recently.”

A crucial factor in the creation of the perfect storm is the stratification of the ocean. Tropical cyclones are characterized by a mechanism of negative feedback that tends to slow-down and sometimes dissipate the storms. Cyclones absorb heat from water while crossing the ocean, and gain energy from it, making it cooler. In addition to the induced upwelling, in which cooler layers from the bottom of the ocean travel upwards, a process of turbulent mixing of water layers also takes place. With less heat available on the surface, slower cyclones tend to lose their strength and slowly fade, while faster and more violent storms tend to proceed almost undisturbed.

“The point is that this negative feedback is more or less efficient depending on the storm speed and on the level of ocean stratification,” says Scoccimarro. “The stratification is not the same in past or future climate scenarios, and it also varies in the different areas of the world. On average, in a warmer climate, more intense storms are more likely to happen. In a changed climate, we will likely have fewer storms, but they will likely be much more intense .”  

CLINT (CLimate INTelligence) project  has the goal to improve detection methods of extreme events and their causation and attribution through Machine Learning techniques. Extreme events include not only tropical cyclones but also heat waves or floods, and the project has a focus on South-East Africa for analysing extreme precipitation associated with cyclones. “We are trying to develop improved tools to better quantify the amount of precipitation in the area, in this case, associated with cyclone Freddy,” says Scoccimarro. “This could also be useful to characterize floods and drought events on the dominion of the Zambesi River, which is very close to the impacted areas.”  

Predicting the birth of a cyclone like Freddy is not straightforward, but there are parameters and models that can be used to determine if the physical conditions of an area over a certain period of time are favourable. Genesis potential indexes (or GPI) are generally empirical formulations that give an estimate of the occurrence of a tropical cyclone in a cell of 5 degrees longitude by 5 degrees latitude. “Within the CLINT project, we are using Machine Learning to improve this empirical index,” said Scoccimarro. “That is, we are working to improve the correlation of this index and the actual occurrence of a cyclone in a certain area, which is crucial for allowing an optimal response and preparedness to disasters.”

• All Article

A climate compass: Advanced research directions to understand and design the future

Visual narratives: From science to engagement through the European State of the Climate

What is the state of the European climate?

The bumpy road to action of the Paris climate deal

The end of 2018 is a crucial date for the implementation of the climate agreement adopted in Paris in 2015 and currently ratified by 178 countries. At COP24 in Katowice, Poland, countries are due to finalized and adopt the operational guidelines of the treaty, also known as “the Paris rulebook”.

Follow the Water – Ep.03

The blood vessel of Egypt meets China: the world’s plumber-in-chief. A journey which starts with the Neolithic revolution, passes through the “hydraulic century” and carries us into the future. By following the history of water, we delve into the roots of human civilization, crossing paths with science, technology, politics, and the stories of people and places.

How good is ChatGPT at climate science?

CMCC President Antonio Navarra reflects on our interview with ChatGPT and how good it is at answering questions related to climate science. “ChatGPT doesn’t actually ‘understand’ anything [but] the technology’s potential is enormous and the next versions will be able to do much more than this interview shows.”

Privacy Overview

• Latest Learning Content
• South African School Papers

Tropical Cyclone Freddy – Geography Grade 12 Research Task

On this page, we have compiled a general guide for Grade 12 Geography Students who are doing their research on Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

In this educational article, we will delve into the complex dynamics of Tropical Cyclone Freddy , a powerful weather system that posed significant threats and caused substantial impacts across various regions, notably Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. This task will explore the formation, path, and consequences of Freddy, offering insights into the broader subject of tropical cyclones.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Tropical Cyclone Freddy stands as a significant weather event in the 2023 cyclone season , illustrating the potent force and extensive impact tropical cyclones can have on regions. Initially developing in the Indian Ocean, Freddy quickly intensified, showcasing the rapid and formidable growth capability of such storms. It made its mark by impacting multiple countries, with notable effects on Madagascar , Mozambique , and Malawi .

In Madagascar , Freddy made landfall on 21 February , near Mananjary, bringing with it powerful winds of up to 130 km/h and gusts of 180 km/h , causing widespread damage, including a storm surge and significant structural damage to homes and infrastructure. The cyclone’s arrival compounded challenges in regions already vulnerable from previous cyclonic activities and ongoing recovery efforts, exacerbating flood risks in areas with saturated soils from Cyclone Cheneso.

The cyclone’s path then took it across the Mozambique Channel, where it made a second landfall in Mozambique on 11 March , particularly affecting the Zambezia Province. Despite weakening to a tropical depression, Freddy continued to unleash heavy rains and strong winds, leading to extensive flooding, displacement of thousands, and destruction of homes and infrastructure. The cumulative rainfall in some areas reached more than what is typically expected in a month, stressing the critical situation in regions already dealing with the aftermath of previous weather-related disasters.

Freddy ‘s impact extended to Malawi , where it has been associated with severe weather conditions, including intense rainfall leading to mudslides and floods, particularly in the southern region. The cyclone’s effects have been devastating, with significant loss of life, displacement of communities, and damage to property and livelihoods. The government’s declaration of a State of Disaster in affected districts underscores the severity of the situation.

The trajectory and effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy underline the complex challenges posed by such natural disasters in the context of global warming , which is believed to influence the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. Freddy exemplifies the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness, response mechanisms, and long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of similar future events on vulnerable communities.

Map indicating the path of the tropical cyclone Freddy 

Why do tropical cyclones such as Freddy develop in late summer?

Tropical cyclones like Freddy tend to develop in late summer due to the optimal conditions present during this time—warm sea temperatures and high humidity levels. These conditions are crucial for cyclone formation, providing the energy necessary for these systems to intensify.

What is the impact of coriolis force and latent heat on the development of tropical cyclone Freddy?

The development of Tropical Cyclone Freddy was significantly influenced by the Coriolis force and latent heat . The Coriolis force, resulting from the Earth’s rotation, imparts a spinning motion to the storm, while the release of latent heat during condensation provides the energy that fuels the cyclone’s intensification.

Discussing the stage of development of the tropical cyclone Freddy.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy exhibited rapid intensification as it moved across the Indian Ocean. It reached its peak intensity just before making landfall, characterized by sustained winds and heavy rainfall. Freddy’s development showcased the dynamic and powerful nature of tropical cyclones under conducive environmental conditions.

Why can category 1 tropical cyclones be more destructive (damaging) than category 5 tropical cyclones?

Category 1 tropical cyclones can be more destructive than their Category 5 counterparts under certain circumstances. Factors such as slow movement over populated areas, leading to prolonged wind and rain exposure, and the specific vulnerability of the impacted regions can amplify the damage caused by lower-category cyclones.

How did tropical cyclone Freddy impact the following?

Environment.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused widespread environmental destruction, including flooding and landslides. These impacts were exacerbated in Madagascar, where soils were already saturated from previous cyclones, leading to significant flood risks.

The economies of the affected regions suffered greatly due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy . Infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and the disruption of commerce and tourism were notable economic consequences of the cyclone.

People/Communities

The human toll was significant, with fatalities, displacements, and extensive damage to homes and communities. In Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi, thousands were left homeless or displaced, highlighting the devastating impact of Freddy on local populations.

What precautions can be implemented/ or has been implemented to reduce the impact of the tropical cyclone.

The local government/government of the country.

Governments implemented early warning systems, evacuation plans, and post-disaster relief efforts. In anticipation of Freddy, preemptive evacuations and the suspension of schools and public transport were notable measures taken to mitigate the cyclone’s impact.

The local residents

Residents were advised to secure property, stock emergency supplies, and adhere to evacuation orders. Community awareness and preparedness initiatives were crucial in minimizing the cyclone’s human and material toll.

Evaluating the impact of Global Warming on the frequency (regularity) of tropical cyclones such as Freddy.

Global warming is believed to influence the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. Warmer sea temperatures can lead to more frequent and more potent cyclones, as seen with Tropical Cyclone Freddy . The increasing regularity and severity of such weather events highlight the urgent need for climate action.

The Path of Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Formation and initial intensification.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy formed in the Indian Ocean in early February 2023. Displaying rapid intensification, it became a major concern for meteorologists and disaster preparedness officials due to its trajectory towards populated landmasses. This phase of Freddy’s path was marked by the accumulation of immense energy, fueled by warm ocean waters and conducive atmospheric conditions.

First Landfall in Madagascar

On 21 February , Freddy made its initial landfall on the eastern coast of Madagascar , near Mananjary. By this time, Freddy had achieved significant strength, with sustained average winds of 130 km/h and gusts of up to 180 km/h . This initial landfall was particularly devastating due to the pre-existing conditions in the region; soils were already saturated from the recent Cyclone Cheneso, exacerbating the flood risk and leading to widespread environmental and infrastructural damage.

Movement Across the Mozambique Channel

After crossing Madagascar, Freddy continued its path across the Mozambique Channel. During this phase, it maintained considerable strength, posing an imminent threat to mainland Africa. The cyclone’s trajectory through the channel was closely monitored as it aimed for a second landfall on the continent.

Second Landfall in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its second landfall in Mozambique on 11 March , particularly affecting the Zambezia Province. Despite weakening to a tropical depression by the time of landfall, Freddy continued to generate intense rainfall across the region. This resulted in severe flooding, displacement of communities, and extensive damage to property and infrastructure. The impact in Mozambique highlighted the cyclone’s enduring power and the challenges of managing cyclone-related disasters in vulnerable regions.

Impact Beyond Landfall

The influence of Tropical Cyclone Freddy extended beyond its landfall points, affecting regions in southern Malawi with heavy rains and strong winds. The widespread nature of Freddy’s impacts underlines the extensive reach of tropical cyclones, capable of affecting areas far from the initial landfall site through associated weather patterns and rainfall.

Conclusion/Summary

Tropical Cyclone Freddy serves as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of tropical cyclones and the importance of preparedness and mitigation strategies. Its journey through Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi underscores the challenges posed by such natural disasters in the era of global warming. Personal reflections on the impact of tropical cyclones reveal a blend of awe for nature’s power and a resolve for better resilience and adaptive measures in the face of future storms.

Related Posts

What Are the 6 Effects of Desertification?

What Are the 6 Effects of Desertification? The six effects of desertification are: What Are the 6 Effects of Desertification? Desertification is a significant...

Easy Ways to Calculate Magnetic Declination

Easy Ways to Calculate Magnetic Declination: Magnetic declination, also known as magnetic variation, is the angle between magnetic north (the direction the north end...

Grade 12 Geography Research Project about informal sector memo pdf

Grade 12 Geography Research Project about informal sector memo pdf Welcome to Grade 12 Geography Research Project: The Informal Sector in Thohoyandou Example Discover...

Name the plate on either side of the plate boundary that runs along the west coast of South America

The name of the plate on either side of the plate boundary that runs along the west coast of South America The plate boundary...

What is the Highest Mountain in Gauteng

What is the Highest Mountain in Gauteng: The highest mountain in Gauteng is Magaliesberg. This mountain range stretches approximately 120 kilometers from Pretoria through...

Why are fold mountains found along the west coast of many continents?

Why are fold mountains found along the west coast of many continents? Fold mountains are typically found along the west coasts of many continents...

Previous Story

How to Write an Obituary - Examples for Grade 12 & Grade 11

44 unique english oral speech topics for grade 12 students.

Content Search

Mozambique + 2 more

Southern Africa: Tropical Cyclone Freddy - Flash Update No. 7 (14 March 2023)

Attachments.

• Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its second landfall in Mozambique on 11 March and then moved inland towards southern Malawi.

• The President of Malawi has declared a State of Disaster in the Southern Region of the country, where over 100 people have reportedly died.

• Heavy rains are expected in the coming days in both Mozambique and Malawi, heightening the risk of further floods and landslides.

• Humanitarian partners are supporting the Government-led responses to Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its second landfall in Mozambique in Quelimane District, Zambezia Province, on 11 March.

The Freddy weather system has continued to move over land as a tropical depression, with a localized centre close to the border between Mozambique and the southern tip of Malawi, according to Meteo France. Although the system has weakened considerably, it is still generating intense rainfall in the interior of Mozambique and southern Malawi, with extreme rainfall forecasted for the days ahead across Zambezia, Sofala and Tete provinces in Mozambique and southern Malawi, according to the latest Flood Risk Bulletin produced for and with support of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.

In Mozambique, Freddy has brought strong winds to Zambezia province, as well as heavy rains (above 200mm/24h) to Zambezia, Sofala, Manica, Tete and Niassa provinces. Some of these provinces received as much rain in 24 hours as they would usually experience in one month. In Zambezia province alone, over 22,000 people have sought refuge in temporary accommodation centres, 10 people have died and 14 have been injured. About 1,900 houses have been damaged (1,050) or destroyed (832), according to preliminary data from the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD), and these figures are expected to rise ahead as further information becomes available. Basic services and public infrastructure have also been affected.

Following Freddy ‘s first landfall in Inhambane province on 24 February, about 171,400 people were affected—including 10 killed, 10 injured and 5,100 displaced—by heavy rains and floods. More than 30,000 houses were affected, according to INGD as of 6 March.

Freddy’s landfall came on the back of floods in Mozambique that had already impacted more 43,000 people since 3 February, particularly in Maputo. Meanwhile, the cholera outbreak in Mozambique continues to spread, and the number of confirmed cholera cases has risen to nearly 8,500 as of 12 March.

In Malawi, the President has declared a State of Disaster in the Southern Region, particularly Blantyre City and District, Chikwawa District, Chiradzulu District, Mulanje District, Mwanza District, Neno District, Nsanje District, Phalombe District, Thyolo District, and Zomba City and District. At least 111 people have lost their lives, and at least 16 are reportedly missing following heavy rains and strong winds attributed to the Freddy weather system since 12 March, according to Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). Eighty-five of those killed died due to mudslides in Cilobwe township in Blantyre district. Some 19,000 people (4,000 households) have been displaced in the hardest-hit districts (Nsanje (approximately 5,850 people), Chikwawa (5,004), Mulanje (3,659), Thyolo (2,390) Blantyre City and District (1,647), Chiradzulu (765)), while data is not yet available for Mwanza, Neno and Phalombe. Water levels in areas surrounding the Shire River have started to rise and Thuchila River is also at risk of flooding. Rainfall accumulation over southern Malawi could reach 400mm to 500mm over the space of 72 hours. The Ministry of Education temporarily suspended classes in the 10 at-risk districts on 13 and 14 March.

In Madagascar, at least 17 people have now died due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy (7 from the first landfall on 21 February and 10 from the latest rains on 5 and 6 March), three are missing and nearly 299,000 people have affected (226,000 in the south east, and over 72,600 in the south-west). Following Freddy’s pass-by the south-west of the country on 5 and 6 March, localized floods are visible in Morombe city and its three surrounding municipalities, as well as Toliara city, where schools and other administrative buildings are still flooded, according to the findings of an aerial assessment. However, the impact of the storm was less than expected and there is almost no visible wind damage in the villages along the western coast between Morombe and Toliara and less than 5 per cent damage has been reported in the agricultural sector following rapid removal of water on crop fields and rice fields.

Related Content

Mozambique humanitarian needs and response plan 2024 (december 2023) [en/pt], mozambique response: cyclone freddy, floods and cholera (as 31 of august 2023), mozambique response: cyclone freddy, floods and cholera, mozambique: tropical cyclone freddy, floods and cholera - situation report no.4.

Cyclone Freddy concludes unusual 5,000-mile, 19-day journey across Indian Ocean with rare Africa landfall

In terms of accumulated cyclone energy, or ace – an integrated metric that accounts for the frequency, intensity and duration of tropical cyclones – freddy is now the all-time record holder for the southern hemisphere..

Waves, heavy rain from Cyclone Freddy near southern Africa

Waves and heavy rain from Cyclone Freddy took over beach shelters on the island of Mauritius on Monday. Freddy is expected to make landfall in Madagascar this week. (Credit: @Hastobesaid2/ Weather Tracker/TMX)

Cyclone Freddy traveled nearly 5,000 miles across the southern Indian Ocean – one of the longest tropical cyclone tracks on record in that ocean basin – and concluded its unusual 19-day journey as it made a rare landfall in southern Africa on Feb. 24.

While these types of storms are called tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, they are called cyclones in the Indian Ocean .

5 DIFFERENT NAMES FOR HURRICANES AROUND THE WORLD

Cyclone Freddy turned deadly in Madagascar

Cyclone Freddy made its first landfall near Mananjary on the eastern coast of Madagascar during the late-morning hours on Feb. 21 (U.S. time). A forecast advisory issued by the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) about an hour before Freddy moved onshore indicated the tropical cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale .

According to the Associated Press , Cyclone Freddy was blamed for the deaths of four people in Madagascar. Freddy's torrential rain and powerful winds pummeled portions of the island nation, where nearly 5,000 homes were damaged and more than 16,000 people were left displaced, the AP reported.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Cyclone Freddy peaked at Category 5 intensity

Cyclone Freddy peaked at Category 5 hurricane-equivalent intensity during the weekend of Feb. 18-19 as it tracked across the southern Indian Ocean.

NOAA's historical hurricane tracks database indicated that Freddy was only the 20th tropical cyclone to reach Category 5 status in the South Indian Ocean since 1989. That's an average of approximately one Category 5 cyclone every two years in that ocean basin.

Cyclone Freddy later made rare landfall in southern Africa

After moving across the island of Madagascar, Freddy emerged over the Mozambique Channel and continued to move westward toward Mozambique.

Cyclone Freddy then made its second landfall in the Mozambique coastal town of Vilanculos on the morning of Feb. 24 (U.S. time), with maximum sustained winds estimated at about 70 mph, according to the AP. That's equivalent in strength to a high-end tropical storm .

This landfall was quite rare because less than 5% of southern Indian Ocean tropical cyclones make landfall on the eastern coast of southern Africa, according to a study published in the journal Weather and Forecasting in October 2004 .

Torrential rain brought a flood danger to Mozambique, southern Africa

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Cyclone Freddy dumped "dangerous and exceptional rainfall levels" in Mozambique and neighboring portions of southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and northeastern South Africa.

Torrential rain had threatened to bring dangerous flash flooding and landslides to those areas, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain.

"There is a potential risk that months' worth of rainfall may fall in the space of a few days, causing widespread flooding in an area which already has saturated soils and high river basin levels from unusually heavy seasonal rains," the WMO warned in a statement.

WATER FROM HURRICANES, TROPICAL STORMS KILLS MORE IN U.S. THAN WIND

Tropical Cyclone Freddy brings strong winds to Mauritius

Tropical Cyclone Freddy delivers intense wind and rain to the island of Mauritius as the storm barrels toward Madagascar. Swells higher than 20 feet have been reported near the island. (Credit: @mikaelbaden / WEATHER TRAKER /TMX)

Freddy was among the longest-lived tropical cyclones on record

The origins of Cyclone Freddy began on Feb. 6, when it developed off the coast of southern Indonesia. It then traveled across the entire southern Indian Ocean – a journey of nearly 5,000 miles – over a period of 19 days.

According to NOAA's historical hurricane tracks database , there has only been one other Category 1-equivalent or stronger tropical cyclone in the southern Indian Ocean to make the entire journey from near Indonesia all the way to Madagascar: Cyclone Eline/Leone in February 2000 .

The nearly 5,000-mile-long journey of Cyclone Freddy across the southern Indian Ocean began off the coast of southern Indonesia on Feb. 6, 2023.

(FOX Weather)

In terms of Accumulated Cyclone Energy, or ACE – an integrated metric that accounts for the frequency, intensity and duration of tropical cyclones – Freddy is now the all-time record holder for the Southern Hemisphere.

According to Phil Klotzbach , a tropical weather expert at Colorado State University, Freddy surpassed the ACE of Cyclone Fantala in 2016, the previous Southern Hemisphere record holder.

Additionally, Cyclone Freddy generated the most ACE of any tropical cyclone on Earth since Hurricane/Typhoon Ioke in 2006 , which was a long-lived and intense storm that tracked across the Central and Western Pacific Ocean, peaking at Category 5 intensity during its 17-day journey .

Freddy's ACE even surpassed that of Hurricane Irma in 2017 , Klotzbach noted.

HOW MANY CATEGORY 5 HURRICANES HAVE MADE LANDFALL IN THE U.S.?

The only two Atlantic hurricanes with a higher lifetime ACE than Cyclone Freddy were Hurricane Three in 1899 and Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Tracking Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Meteorologists are tracking one of the strongest cyclones of the year in the Indian Ocean. The cyclone was visible from International Space Station.

• Extreme Weather
• World Regions