Meteorological history of Cyclone Freddy

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Cyclone Freddy
Track of Cyclone Freddy, according to the Saffir-Simpson scale
Meteorological history
Formed5 February 2023
Dissipated14 March 2023
Duration5 weeks and 2 days
Very intense tropical cyclone
10-minute sustained (MFR)
Highest winds230 km/h (145 mph)
Lowest pressure927 hPa (mbar); 27.37 inHg
Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds270 km/h (165 mph)
Lowest pressure918 hPa (mbar); 27.11 inHg
Overall effects
Areas affected
  • Mascarene Islands
  • Madagascar
  • Mozambique
  • Zimbabwe
  • Malawi
  • South Africa
  • Eswatini
  • Zambia
Part of the 2022–23 Australian region and South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons

Cyclone Freddy was the longest-lived tropical cyclone, lasting 36 days, and the second farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed worldwide. It also had the most accumulated cyclone energy of any individual cyclone and is the only known tropical cyclone to have achieved seven separate rapid intensification cycles.

Originating from a Madden–Julian oscillation in conjunction with an equatorial Rossby wave, it developed into a tropical low on 5 February while situated to the south of the Indonesian archipelago. The following day, the tropical low intensified into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale—the fourth tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season. Located just within Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Melbourne's area of responsibility, the storm was named Freddy by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Freddy quickly intensified and became a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone before it moved into the South-West Indian Ocean basin. Late on 19 February, the Météo-France office on Réunion (MFR) upgraded it to a very intense tropical cyclones with estimated maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph) and a central barometric pressure of 927 hPa (27.37 inHg).

Formation and intensification

Cyclone Freddy off the coast of Western Australia on 7 February

An active phrase of the Madden–Julian oscillation in conjunction with an equatorial Rossby wave led to the formation of a tropical low on 5 February while situated to the south of the Indonesian archipelago.[1] However, later that next day, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 1] issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the system and initiated advisories on the system and classified it as Tropical Cyclone 11S.[3][4] Given the increase in organization, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)[nb 2] stated that the tropical low had strengthened into a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and was given the name Freddy.[6][7][8] As the storm moved away from the Australian region on 7 February, it began to rapidly organize and developed an eye feature on microwave imagery. As a result, it was classified as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale by the JTWC.[9] As the day progressed, the system became increasingly disorganized, with the increase in wind shear causing Freddy to weaken back into a minimal tropical storm.[10][11]

The BoM reported that Freddy peaked in the Australian region as a high-end Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with estimated maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) and a central barometric pressure of 951 hPa (28.08 inHg).[12] At the same time, the JTWC followed suit and upgraded the system to a Category 4 hurricane, with estimated one-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (130 mph).[13] By that time, the eyewall had cloud tops colder than −130 °F (−90 °C).[14][15] Over the following days, the cyclone's structure gradually became disorganized, with its eye no longer well-defined by 12 February.[16][17] At around 12:00 UTC on 14 February, Freddy subsequently crossed 90° E, where it moved out of the Australian region and into the South-West Indian Ocean, which prompted the BoM to pass the primary warning responsibility to the Météo-France La Réunion (MFR).[nb 3][19]

Peak intensity

Freddy after its peak intensity while northeast of Rodrigues on 20 February.

The JTWC, meanwhile, assessed that Freddy had peaked with sustained wind speeds of 270 km/h (165 mph), making it equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane[20][21] Freddy strengthened further to its peak intensity as a very intense tropical cyclones with 10-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph) and the lowest atmospheric pressure of 927 hPa (27.37 inHg).[22][23] Shortly afterward, Freddy passed north of Mauritius and Réunion, where it weakened to an intense tropical cyclones.[24][25] Freddy officially made landfall as a tropical cyclone status near Mananjary, Madagascar at 21:00 UTC on 21 February, with 10-minute sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 970 hPa (28.64 inHg).[26]

Once Freddy moved inland, it began to traverse the mountainous terrain of Madagascar, was downgraded to overland depression status, and then emerged over the Mozambique Channel.[27][28] Freddy attained moderate tropical storm status while in the Mozambique Channel.[29] The system then passed north of Europa Island.[30] Freddy intensified into a severe tropical storm status, with convection wrapping around it and forming distinct banding features.[31][32] At 12:00 UTC on 24 February, Freddy made landfall in Mozambique south of Vilankulos, with 10-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h (50 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 986 hPa (29.12 inHg).[33] Freddy rapidly weakened as it moved westward and further inland, weakening to an overland depression status by 18:00 UTC that day.[34]

Records

Freddy's 36-day existence made it the longest-lasting tropical cyclone recorded worldwide, surpassing Hurricane John's previous record in the 1994 season.[nb 4][35] Additionally, Freddy was the second-farthest traveling tropical cyclone globally, behind 1994's Hurricane John, and the furthest in the Indian Ocean, covering a distance of 12,785 km (7,945 mi), which is approximately 33% of the Earth's circumference.[35] Moreover, it achieved the highest accumulated cyclone energy of any tropical cyclones, reaching an ACE of 87.01, equivalent to an average Atlantic hurricane season, and surpassing the previous record set by Hurricane Ioke in 2006.[36][37] Freddy was the first tropical cyclone to undergo seven separate rounds of rapid intensification.[38] It exceeded the previous records held by Hurricane Norman in 2018, Hurricane Emily in 2005, and 1994's Hurricane John.[39] Freddy was one of only four systems to traverse the entirety of the southern Indian Ocean from east to west; the others were Cyclone Litanne in 1994 as well as Cyclone Leon–Eline and Cyclone Hudah in 2000.[37]

Demise

Cyclone Freddy off the coast of Mozambique on 11 March

Early on 1 March, Freddy emerged again into the Mozambique Channel.[40] There were favorable environmental conditions, such as low vertical wind shear, good upper-level divergence and poleward outflow.[40] With increased convection in the eastern semicircle, Freddy re-intensified off the coast of Mozambique, achieving tropical disturbance status.[41] As Freddy showed signs of intensification, the MFR upgraded the system to a tropical depression status.[42][43] Freddy gradually improved its convection with improvements in further consolidation.[44] By 18:00 UTC on 5 March, Freddy strengthened into a severe tropical storm status as it accelerated eastward toward the coast of Madagascar.[45][46]

Continuing to intensify, Freddy began to exhibit an ill-defined eye on visible satellite imagery, leading to its classification as a tropical cyclone status with 10-sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph).[47][48] The cyclone weakened rapidly due to higher wind shear and dry air intrusion.[49] However, convection near the center intensified, and banding features improved.[50] The JTWC commented that it was 'like a B-reel horror movie that never ends.'"[51] Freddy rapidly re-strengthened and made landfall for the final time as a Category 2 hurricane near Quelimane, Mozambique on 11 March, with winds of about 175 km/h (110 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 965 hPa (28.50 inHg).[52][53] The cyclone featured a well-defined eye within its compact and symmetrical central dense overcast.[54][55] Once onshore, the cyclone quickly weakened, and its cloud pattern deteriorated.[56] Within two hours, the eye vanished from satellite imagery and then dissipated soon thereafter, late on 14 March.[57][58] The remnants of Freddy continued to travel northwards, bringing rain to Malawi and several provinces in Mozambique.[59]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the Indian Ocean and other regions.[2]
  2. ^ The Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Melbourne, Australia, is a branch of the country's Bureau of Meteorology, which is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the Australian basin.[5]
  3. ^ Météo-France's meteorological office in Réunion (MFR) is the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the South-West Indian Ocean, tracking all tropical cyclones south of the equator, from the east coast of Africa to 90° E.[18]
  4. ^ Only count the number of days maintaining tropical storm status or higher

References

  1. ^ Clegg, Pete; Craig, Earl-Spurr; Paterson, Linda (19 July 2023). Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Perth, Western Australia: Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. ^ Frequently Asked Questions (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  3. ^ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 97S) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.[dead link] Alt URL
  4. ^ Tropical Cyclone 11S (Eleven) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023. Alt URL
  5. ^ Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers (Report). National Hurricane Center. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. ^ Tropical Cyclone Report: Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. ^ Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track Map for Tropical Cyclone Freddy (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  8. ^ Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  9. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 6 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023. Alt URL
  10. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  11. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 13 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Cyclone Freddy reaches Category 4 intensity". cimss.ssec.wisc.edu. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 19 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023. Alt URL
  15. ^ "Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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  17. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 22 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  18. ^ RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-West Indian Ocean (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization.
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  20. ^ Cappucci, Matthew. "Cyclone Freddy teeters on brink of Category 5 strength in Indian Ocean". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  21. ^ "JTWC Best Track on Tropical Cyclone Freddy (11S)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  22. ^ Very Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (19/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  23. ^ Very Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (19/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 19 February 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  24. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 36 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023. Alt URL
  25. ^ Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (23/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 20 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Cyclone Freddy Moving Across Madagascar, Then A Flood Danger For Mozambique". www.wunderground.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  27. ^ Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (30/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 21 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  28. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 39 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023. Alt URL
  29. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 42 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  30. ^ Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (36/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 23 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  31. ^ Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (37/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 23 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  32. ^ Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (39/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 24 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  33. ^ Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (41/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 24 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  34. ^ Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (42/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 24 February 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Freddy is the longest tropical cyclone on record at 36 days: WMO". World Meteorological Organization. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  36. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (12 March 2023). "Lashing Mozambique, Freddy has become Earth's most energetic cyclone on record". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Tropical Cyclone Freddy Breaks Records before Lashing Madagascar". National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  38. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (7 March 2023). "Deadly cyclone Freddy has become Earth's longest-lived tropical storm". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  39. ^ Masters, Jeff (10 March 2023). "Record-breaking Cyclone Freddy approaches Mozambique — again » Yale Climate Connections". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  40. ^ a b Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean, 18Z 2 March 2023 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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  52. ^ "Mozambique: Severe Tropical Storm Freddy - Flash Update No.8 (as of 11 March 2023) - Mozambique | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 11 March 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
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  54. ^ Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (78/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 11 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  55. ^ Prognostic Reasoning for Tropical Cyclone 11S (Freddy) Warning No. 59 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 11 March 2023. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  56. ^ Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (84/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 12 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  57. ^ "Best Track Data on Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy (07)". Météo-France. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  58. ^ Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (83/7/20222023) (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 12 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  59. ^ Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean (PDF) (Report). Météo-France. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

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