Cyclone Freddy

Storm has been upgraded to Very Intense Tropical Cyclone with severe risk of deadly landslides.

Freddy has had a long journey across the Indian Ocean over the past few weeks, having developed into a category 1 cyclone on 6 February, just south of Indonesia. Only two other cyclones are known to have crossed the Indian Ocean: Eline and Hudah, both in 2000. With destructive winds and significant rainfall of 100-200mm possible, there will also be a severe risk of deadly landslides.

A cyclone which is intensifying as it approaches the southeastern African coast has been labeled as "dangerous" by the United Nation's weather agency on ...

humanitarian agency that the “severe humanitarian situation in the region” may escalate. Cyclone Freddy is projected to reach Madagascar on Tuesday evening and hurtle toward Mozambique by the end of the week. The Mahanoro, Mananjary and Nosy Varita communes in western Madagascar will be first-hit on Tuesday. The nation has already experienced widespread flooding in recent weeks, raising fears from the U.N. Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. A “significant deterioration in weather conditions” is underway, Meteo France’s multi-hazard early warning system predicted Monday.

Cyclone Freddy in the southern Indian Ocean is expected to slam Madagascar with life-threatening flooding and damaging winds before threatening parts of ...

[NOAA's historical hurricane tracks database](https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/#map=3.12/-21.3/86.34&search=eyJzZWFyY2hTdHJpbmciOiJNYWRhZ2FzY2FyIiwic2VhcmNoVHlwZSI6Imdlb2NvZGVkIiwib3NtSUQiOiI0NDczMjUiLCJjYXRlZ29yaWVzIjpbIkg1IiwiSDQiLCJIMyIsIkgyIiwiSDEiXSwieWVhcnMiOltdLCJtb250aHMiOltdLCJlbnNvIjpbXSwicHJlc3N1cmUiOnsicmFuZ2UiOlswLDExNTBdLCJpbmNsdWRlVW5rbm93blByZXNzdXJlIjp0cnVlfSwiYnVmZmVyIjo2MCwiYnVmZmVyVW5pdCI6WyJOYXV0aWNhbCBNaWxlcyJdLCJzb3J0U2VsZWN0aW9uIjp7InZhbHVlIjoieWVhcnNfbmV3ZXN0IiwibGFiZWwiOiJZZWFyIChOZXdlc3QpIn0sImFwcGx5VG9BT0kiOnRydWUsImlzU3Rvcm1MYWJlbHNWaXNpYmxlIjp0cnVlfQ==), there has only been one other Category 1-equivalent or stronger cyclone in the southern Indian Ocean to make the entire journey from near Indonesia to Madagascar. Freddy peaked at [Category 5 intensity](https://www.foxweather.com/learn/saffir-simpson-hurricane-wind-scale-hurricane-ratings) over the weekend as it tracked across the southern Indian Ocean. [5 DIFFERENT NAMES FOR HURRICANES AROUND THE WORLD](https://www.foxweather.com/learn/5-different-names-hurricanes-around-world) Joint Typhoon Warning Center](https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html). However, its strength will be dependent upon how much the cyclone is weakened by the interaction with Madagascar's terrain. 6, when it developed off the coast of southern Indonesia. According to THAN WIND](https://www.foxweather.com/learn/water-from-hurricanes-tropical-storms-kills-more-in-us-than-wind) [hurricanes](https://www.foxweather.com/learn/difference-between-tropical-depression-tropical-storm-hurricane) in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, they are called [cyclones in the Indian Ocean](https://www.foxweather.com/learn/5-different-names-hurricanes-around-world). [Africa](https://www.foxweather.com/category/africa), especially in areas with hilly or mountainous terrain. [flooding](https://www.foxweather.com/category/flood) and damaging [winds](https://www.foxweather.com/category/wind-extreme-weather) before threatening parts of southern Africa. The origins of Cyclone Freddy go all the way back to Feb.

Mauritius canceled flights and closed its stock exchange Monday as an intense tropical cyclone approached the Indian Ocean island nation, bringing rainfall ...

"Sea will be high with heavy swells of the order of seven meters beyond the reefs. "After making landfall, Freddy will cross the center of the country during the night and is expected to exit the Mozambique Channel in the southwest region on Wednesday afternoon," it said. "Cyclone Freddy is an extremely strong cyclone which is a direct threat" to the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and Saint-Brandon, he said. "The public in Mauritius is advised to maintain all precautions and to stay in safe places." Storm surge will continue to cause inundation along the low-lying coastal areas. In its latest update at around 7 pm (1500 GMT), the agency said Freddy had "passed at its closest distance from the island" at about 120 kilometers to the north and was moving west-southwest at a speed of about 30 kilometers an hour.

Freddy is then forecast to weaken into a moderate tropical storm as it tracks west-southwestward across south-central Madagascar before exiting into the ...

21. Use extreme caution in low-lying coastal areas and near streams, creeks, and other waterways due to the potential for severe flooding and storm surge. Red heavy swell warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale) have been issued across the eastern and southeastern coastline, and yellow warnings are in place for the northeastern and southwestern coastline. Yellow cyclone warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale) are in place for Amoron'i Mania, Atsimo Atsinanana, Atsinanana, Fitovinany, Ihorombe, Matsiatra Ambony, Vakinankaratra, and Vatovavy regions, as well as Anosibe-An'ala District in Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Sections of the main coast road will be closed from late Feb. Tens of flights remain canceled Feb. Authorities have scheduled to resume some Air Mauritius (MK) flights at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) from the afternoon of Feb. As of early Feb. The system will then briefly strengthen into a severe tropical storm as it tracks westward over the Mozambique Channel Feb. Freddy is then forecast to weaken into a moderate tropical storm as it tracks west-southwestward across south-central Madagascar before exiting into the Mozambique Channel late Feb. As of 06:00 EAT, the storm's center of circulation was approximately 252 km (157 miles) west-northwest of Saint-Denis, Reunion. Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy is tracking west-southwestward in the Indian Ocean northwest of Reunion early Feb.

Situation Report in English on Madagascar about Tropical Cyclone; published on 20 Feb 2023 by OCHA.

In Madagascar, the regions of Atsinanana, Vatovavy and Fitovinany are under yellow alert (threat), while Analanjirofo, Atsimo Atsinanana, Alaotra, Analamanga, Itasy, Vakinankaratra, Amoron'i mania, Matsiatra Ambony, Ihorombe, Menabe, Beroroha, Ankazoabo, Sakaraha, Morombe and Toliara regions are under a green alert (warning), according to Meteo Madagascar. It is expected to cause locally devastating winds and a very dangerous sea state near the impact zone in Madagascar. Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy passed about 140 km north-west of Mauritius on 20 February, bringing strong winds and dangerous sea conditions, according to Meteo France.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy was poised to strike eastern Madagascar on Tuesday, slightly weakening after brushing Mauritius with powerful winds and heavy rain, ...

Freddy is the first cyclone, and the second tropical weather system, to hit during the current season, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. The storm will be "likely at an intense stage," packing winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour, it said. Located 500 kilometres (310 miles) away, the storm was expected to make landfall on the island's eastern coast on Tuesday evening, the UN's disaster agency OCHA warned.

Freddy is about to strike Madagascar, and that's not all. Here's the latest, complete forecast.

Madagascar's government on Tuesday suspended schools and transport in the path of tropical cyclone Freddy, which was likely to make landfall in the ...

Residents in Madagascar are bracing for tropical cyclone Freddy due to make landfall on Tuesday. According to the UN's disaster management agency, OCHA, ...

"We are afraid of rising waters, accompanied by gusts of wind that can destroy everything like the wires of the poles, that is what traumatizes me the most. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said more than 2.3 million people in Madagascar could be affected by Freddy, and the cyclone would pass through Mozambique and Zimbabwe. According to the UN's disaster management agency, OCHA, the cyclone should hit the eastern coast of Madagascar on Tuesday evening after having brushed past Mauritius.

Storm surge — an increase in water level associated with the storm — of around 2 meters (6.5 feet) is also anticipated around and north the landfall point.

The track is similar to [ Eline/Leon ](https://twitter.com/wxjerdman/status/1627991995841933312)in February 2000. It now holds the [highest ACE](https://twitter.com/MatthewCuyugan/status/1627903480768892929) on record in the Indian Ocean or Southern Hemisphere. It sits in a region of the Indian Ocean at increased risk of powerful storms thanks to climate change. Freddy is the second tropical cyclone to make landfall in Madagascar this season. Its copious rainfall, soaked up by the ground, is also likely to exacerbate new flooding from Freddy. Cyclone Cheneso came ashore in the northeast on Jan. It became the year’s first Category 5 storm in the middle of last week. Mananjary took a direct hit from a cyclone named Batsirai last year, a storm that killed many people and left large parts of the city in ruins. Areas near landfall can see significant wind damage, with a diminishing but continued threat as the storm charges inland. It originally formed on Feb. Battering near-shore waves as high as 20 to 30 feet were likely, as well. A powerful and long-lasting cyclone is colliding with south-central Madagascar.

The all-time Southern Hemisphere record-holder for strength over time is expected to bring flooding rains of 4-8 inches to Madagascar and Mozambique.

[Tropical Cyclone Monica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Monica) of 2006 (180 mph winds) tied as the strongest Indian Ocean Basin storm on record. Fantala is also the all-time intensity record holder for the entire Indian Ocean, since it tops the record holder for the North Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Fani of May 2019 (peak 1-minute winds of 175 mph). NOAA’s hurricane history database lists 18 tropical cyclones in the South Indian Ocean that have achieved category 5 strength since 1989 (19 if Freddy is included). [Tropical Cyclone Gafilo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Gafilo), which hit the northern end of Madagascar on March 7, 2004 as a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds. The strongest of these storms, Tropical Cyclone Fantala in 2016, peaked with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and a central pressure of 907 mb pressure. [since 2018](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/dr-2018-000141-mdg) brought about by drought, with the rainy seasons of both 2019-20 and 2020-21 bringing just 60% of normal rainfall. Madagascar’s most expensive tropical cyclone was Tropical Cyclone Emilie, which made landfall on the island’s east coast on Feb. Batsirai was one of four tropical cyclones to affect Madagascar in the space of 40 days between late January and early March 2022, along with Ana, Dumako, and Emnati. Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State](https://twitter.com/philklotzbach/status/1628058603369398273). After landfall in Mozambique, Freddy is predicted to stall and potentially bring extremely dangerous heavy rains in excess of 10 inches to southern Mozambique and northeastern South Africa. The coast near the landfall location is moderately populated, and damage from storm surge and wind is likely to be extensive. Tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall on the central east coast of the island nation of Madagascar at approximately noon EST (16Z) or 8 p.m.

Climate Cyclone Freddy Freddy had already hit the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius on Monday (L'express Maurice/AP) · Madagascar Floods Madagascar had already ...

Currently, the wind is blowing a lot and the electricity has been cut,” said Zaonarivelo, another resident. We have been preparing for two days reinforcing the roofs of houses by placing sandbags on them. “We put all our things up high and left the house this afternoon as it is by the river.

The tropical cyclone made landfall on February 21, 2023, after traveling for more than two weeks across the Indian Ocean.

[LANCE](https://earthdata.nasa.gov/lance), [GIBS/Worldview](https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/), and the [Joint Polar Satellite System](https://www.jpss.noaa.gov/mission_and_instruments.html) (JPSS). Story by [Emily Cassidy](https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/emily.s.cassidy). [UK Met Office](https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1628061735088168960). Freddy was the second cyclone to hit Madagascar during the 2022–2023 season, which runs from around late October to May in the [130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-suspends-schools-cyclone-freddy-approaches-2023-02-21/), but precise wind speeds at landfall were yet to be confirmed. [Image of the Day](/topic/image-of-the-day) [Atmosphere](/topic/atmosphere) [Land](/topic/land) [Water](/topic/water) The 15-day lifespan of the cyclone is unusual; few cyclones travel so far and are sustained for so long. [southwest Indian Ocean](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/hurricanes/location). Rainfall may be especially damaging in places still recovering from The longest-lived tropical cyclone in the southern hemisphere was [Leon-Eline in 2000](https://www.wunderground.com/article/storms/hurricane/news/2023-02-20-tropical-cyclone-freddy-forecast-madagascar-mozambique), which was sustained for 18.5 days and traveled a similar path to Freddy. [Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite](https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/current-satellite-missions/currently-flying/joint-polar-satellite-system/visible-infrared-imaging) (VIIRS) on the [NOAA-20](https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/current-satellite-missions/currently-flying/joint-polar-satellite-system) satellite. The coastal town of Mananjary, [home to 25,000 people](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230221-intense-cyclone-freddy-lashes-madagascar), was previously hit hard in February 2022 by the deadly [Cyclone Batsirai](https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149454/cyclone-batsirai-floods-madagascar).

At least one person has died after a tropical cyclone battered Madagascar's east coast, with heavy rain and powerful winds tearing roofs off houses and ...

Who's to say that in 15 days another one won't fall on us?" "It's a repeat performance. Batsirai and Emnati in 2022, Freddy in 2023... The country's meteorological service warned that torrential rains would continue along its path. The Indian Ocean island nation is particularly vulnerable to cyclones. "All the doors and windows started shaking," said Tahina, a resident of Mananjary, a coastal town of around 25,000 people 30km from where the cyclone first made landfall.