Cyclone Freddy (2023)

Cyclone Freddy
 Formed
 Dissipated
 Highest Winds
 Lowest pressure
 Fatalities
 Damage
 Areas affected

Cyclone Freddy a very powerful, erratic, destructive, deadly, and extremely long lasting Tropical Cyclone in February and March, 2023. Freddy broke Hurricane John's record as the longest lasting Tropical Cyclone on record at 39 days, 29 while Tropical. Freddy is the second costliest Tropical Cyclone in SW Indian History, behind Idai in 2019, and second deadliest, behind also Idai in 2019.

## Meteorological History

On February 3 a tropical wave formed in between Indonesia and Western Australia and headed gradually east. On February 4, the wave turned north-east and south again on February 5, becoming Tropical Storm Freddy that night. Freddy moved south while strengthening on February 6. Freddy turned south-west on February 7, becoming a Category 1 hurricane-equivalent. Freddy then turned west and became a Category 2 that afternoon. Freddy held it's intensity for about a day before weakening down to a Category 1 and turning south on February 8. Freddy turned west as it continued to weaken, eventually going down to Tropical Storm status on February 9. Freddy began intensifying again on February 10. On February 11, Freddy underwent rapid intensification, reaching it's second peak as a Category 4 with winds of 130mph and a pressure of 940mb. Freddy weakened as it near the border of the Australian Region and the SW Indian Ocean. On February 14, Freddy crossed into the SW Indian Ocean as a Category 2. Freddy began intensifying again and reached it's third and first VITC (Very Intense Tropical Cyclone) peak as a high-end Category 4 with winds of 155mph and a pressure of 927mb. On February 16, Freddy weakened but was still a Category 4 as it was headed toward Mauritius and Reunion. On February 19. Freddy reached it's ultimate peak as a Category 5 with winds of 165mph and a pressure of 916mb, Freddy weakened slightly down to 150mph but jumped up to Category 5 again that night with winds of 160mph and a pressure of 922mb. On February 20, Freddy weakened as it passed north of Mauritius and Reunion as a Category 4 with winds of 140mph. On February 21, Freddy made landfall in Mananjary, Madagascar as a Category 3 with winds of 115mph and a pressure of 967mb. Freddy rapidly weakened down to Tropical Depression status on February 22 as it left Madagascar. It regained Tropical Storm status on February 23. On February 24, Freddy made landfall south of Vilanculos, Mozambique at it's sixth peak as a high-end Tropical Storm with winds of 70mph and a pressure of 987mb. It rapidly weakened and became a remnant low. Freddy meandered around Mozambique and Zimbabwe for almost a week and exited Mozambique on March 1. On March 4, Freddy became a Tropical Storm again and headed toward Madagascar and stalled off the coast for about 2 days. On March 7, Freddy turned north and began intensifying and reached it's seventh peak as a Category 3 with winds of 115mph and a pressure of 962mb. Freddy turned north east and began slowing down, reaching Mozambique on March 11. That night, Freddy reached it's eighth and final peak as a Category 3 with winds of 115mph and a pressure of 955mb as it made landfall near Quelimane, Mozambique. Freddy rapidly weakened and finally dissipated over Malawi on March 14.

## Impact

Freddy caused a lot of damage, mostly in Mozambique. Freddy caused an outbreak of cholera in Malawi and unsafe drinking water as it caused over 50 inches of rain that destroyed water filters. Overall Freddy caused $700m in damages, and 1,990 deaths, 17 in Madagascar, 185 in Mozambique, 2 in Zimbabwe, and 1,786 in Malawi.