Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Track map of severe tropical cyclone Freddy off-shore of Broome Western Australia: 11 February 2023.
Track map of severe tropical cyclone Freddy off-shore of Broome Western Australia: 11 February 2023.

Tropical cyclone Freddy developed on February 6 2023 northwest of Broome and quickly developed into a category 3 severe tropical cyclone by 3pm AWST. Severe TC Freddy continued travelling toward the southwest out of the Australasian region and didnt pose a threat to the Australian mainland.

After leaving the Australasian region TC Freddy continued to move towards the west well into the Indian Ocean. Tropical Cyclone Freddy was an exceptionally long-lived cyclone and redeveloped with significant impacts in Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi. Freddy traveled more than 8,000 kilometers across the southern Indian Ocean to southeast Africa. 

After damaging infrastructure on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion, which both avoided a direct hit, Freddy first made landfall on Feb. 21 as it plowed across the island nation of Madagascar. From there, the storm made landfall at Mozambique on Feb. 23 before briefly heading back out to sea, where it narrowly missed Madagascar again before turning around once more to hit Mozambique again on March 11, along with Malawi and Zimbabwe.

 

Freddy is likely the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record, having lasted for at least 35 days. The previous record was set by Typhoon John, which whirled across the Pacific for 31 days in 1994. 

Video of TC Freddy

 

Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy was the third tropical cyclone and the second severe tropical cyclone in the Australian region for the 2022/23 season.

 

Track map and details of severe tropical cyclone Freddy off the northwest coast of Western Australian coast. From JTWC.
Track map and details of severe tropical cyclone Freddy off the northwest coast of Western Australian coast. From JTWC.
Animation of severe tropical cyclone Freddy developing off the northern Western Australian coast, February 11 2023. images from www.bom.gov.au
Animation of severe tropical cyclone Freddy developing off the northern Western Australian coast, February 11 2023. images from www.bom.gov.au
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy of the northwest Western Australian coast. February 9 2023. Image from JTWC.
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy of the northwest Western Australian coast. February 9 2023. Image from JTWC.
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy of the northwest Western Australian coast. February 11 2023. Image from JTWC.
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy of the northwest Western Australian coast. February 11 2023. Image from JTWC.
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy in the Indian Ocean. February 14 2023. Image from JTWC.
Satellite image of severe tropical cyclone Freddy in the Indian Ocean. February 14 2023. Image from JTWC.
Track map of tropical cyclone Freddy from the northwest Australian coast to the east coast of Africa over 35 days. Image from NOAA.
Track map of tropical cyclone Freddy from the northwest Australian coast to the east coast of Africa over 35 days. Image from NOAA.