Meteorological history of Cyclone Freddy

File:Freddy 2023-02-07 0140Z.jpg

The origins of Cyclone Freddy can be traced back to 4 February 2023, when the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM){{#tag:ref|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.{{cite report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|date=11 September 2011|title=Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers|access-date=27 August 2012|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutrsmc.shtml|archive-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321173303/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutrsmc.shtml|url-status=live}}|group="nb"}} reported that a tropical low—identified as 13U—had formed during an active phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation in conjunction with an equatorial Rossby wave,{{cite report|last1=Clegg|first1=Pete|last2=Craig|first2=Earl-Spurr|last3=Paterson|first3=Linda|title=Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy|series=Tropical Cyclone Report|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/freddy23.pdf|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|location=Perth, Western Australia|date=19 July 2023|accessdate=19 July 2023|archive-date=26 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726131652/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/pdf/freddy23.pdf|url-status=live}} while it was situated to the south of the Indonesian archipelago. Soon after, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC){{#tag:ref|While not designated by the World Meteorological Organization as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, the JTWC issues warnings on tropical cyclones in all of the major tropical cyclone basins to supplement the activities of United States government agencies.{{cite web |title=Products and Services Notice |url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html?notices |publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center |access-date=7 June 2021 |archive-date=7 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607092935/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html?notices |url-status=dead }}|group="nb"}} issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting that the disturbance was located in a favorable environment with low wind shear and sea surface temperatures of {{Convert|29-30|C|F|abbr=on}}.{{cite JTWC|date=6 February 2023|type=tcfa|designation=97S|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2023-02-06-0140-sh9723web.txt}} Early on 6 February, the JTWC began issuing warnings on the system, classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 11S.{{cite JTWC|date=6 February 2023|type=warn|category=TC|designation=11S|name=Eleven|no=1|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2023-02-06-0850-sh1123web.txt}} Deep convection increased and the system became a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale by 12:00 UTC; the BoM assigned it the name Freddy accordingly.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region)|url=https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/ax/axau02.aprf..txt|date=6 February 2023|accessdate=6 February 2023|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230206141617/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/ax/axau02.aprf..txt}} Freddy then rapidly intensified and developed an eye feature on microwave imagery. As a result, the JTWC classified it as a Category 2-equivalent intensity on the Saffir-Simpson scale around 15:00 UTC on 7 February.{{cite JTWC|date=7 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=6|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-07-1430-sh1123prog.txt}} After its first peak, the system became increasingly susceptible to wind shear and dry air intrusion,{{cite JTWC|date=9 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=13|name=Freddy|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh1123prog.txt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230209092317/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/wd/wdxs31.pgtw..txt|archive-date=9 February 2023}} causing Freddy to weaken back into a minimal tropical storm by 09:00 UTC on 9 February.{{cite web |date=9 February 2023 |title=Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin (Western Region) |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60285.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230209091923/https://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/data/raw/ax/axau02.aprf..txt |archive-date=9 February 2023 |accessdate=9 February 2023 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology}} Freddy's deep convection around the storm's center had significantly decreased.

Atmospheric conditions became more favorable for development as wind shear decreased and deep convection began to consolidate and wrap around the cyclone. Consequently, the cyclone quickly restrengthened with the storm becoming a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone—attaining an initial peak intensity with winds of {{convert|80|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}—and at 18:00 UTC on 11 February, Freddy reached its second peak intensity as a high-end Category 4 severe tropical cyclone in the Australian basin, with winds of {{convert|95|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}} and a central barometric pressure of {{convert|951|hPa|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|comma=off|sortable=on}}. The cyclone's eyewall displayed cloud tops warming to below {{convert|-90|C|F|abbr=on|order=flip}} while passing over warm sea surface temperature of {{Convert|29|C|F|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |date=11 February 2023 |title=Cyclone Freddy reaches Category 4 intensity |url=https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/50411 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726165109/https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/50411 |archive-date=26 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=cimss.ssec.wisc.edu |language=en-US}} The cyclone's structure continued to gradually weaken before moving over the South-West Indian Ocean. At around 12:00 UTC on 14 February, the BoM passed the responsibility of tracking the system over to the Météo-France office on La Réunion (MFR).{{#tag:ref|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.{{RA I Tropical cyclone operational plan}}|group="nb"}} Thus, the system was initially classified as a tropical cyclone status before being later upgraded to intense tropical cyclone status around 18:00 UTC that day.{{cite web |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302141406.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (1/7/20222023) |date=14 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215115559/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302141406.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2023 |access-date=14 February 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302141918.pdf |title=Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (2/7/20222023) |date=14 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215120339/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302141918.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2023 |access-date=14 February 2023}}

File:Freddy and Dingani 2023-02-12 0700Z.jpgThe BoM reported that Tropical Low 11U developed near the Australian Area of Responsibility boundary on 3 February 2023, and moved west toward the Cocos Islands.{{cite report |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/11U-2023.shtml |title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Low 11U (pre-Severe Tropical Cyclone Dingani) |date= |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423104537/http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/11U-2023.shtml |archive-date=23 April 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=23 April 2023}} It then entered the South-West Indian Ocean on 9 February, where it was designated as Moderate Tropical Storm Dingani by the MFR.{{cite web |date=9 February 2023 |title=Moderate Tropical Storm 06 (Dingani) Warning Number (1/6/20222023) |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302090706.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209073013/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302090706.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2023 |access-date=9 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France}} By 12 February, Dingani had intensified into a tropical cyclone, maintaining a well-defined eye for twelve hours before shear caused it to disappear.{{cite JTWC|date=12 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=13S|no=8|name=Dingani|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh1323web.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213053656/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh1323prog.txt|archive-date=13 February 2023}} On 15 February, Dingani transitioned into a post-tropical depression.{{cite web |date=15 February 2023 |title=Post-Tropical Depression 06 (Ex-Dingani) Warning Number (25/6/20222023) |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302150744.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215105204/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302150744.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2023 |access-date=15 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France}} During their coexistence, the average distance between Freddy and Dingani was {{convert|2,383|km|mi|abbr=on|order=out}}.{{sfn|Liu et al.|2023}}

In March 2023, the head of operations at MFR stated that there might have been an indirect influence from Dingani, which strengthened the subtropical ridge to the east of Dingani and guided Freddy on a westward path across the Indian Ocean. He added that further research would be needed to confirm these findings.{{Cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Raging for weeks, TC Freddy could be the longest-lasting storm in history. So what made it so powerful? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-23/tropical-cyclone-freddy-among-longest-lasting-in-history/102121562 |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} According to an October 2023 paper in the journal American Geophysical Union, Freddy's southwestward trajectory was influenced by a northerly steering flow, which resulted from its interaction with Cyclone Dingani to the west,{{sfn|Liu et al.|2023}} while Perry et al 2024 showed that moisture advection during Dingani's passage helped fuel Freddy's movement, as moisture from Dingani was carried northeastward into the westerly jet stream and continued to affect Freddy until Dingani shifted southward on 13 February.{{sfn|Perry et al.|2024}}

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File:Freddy_2023-02-19_1345Z_-_1815Z.gif

Cyclone Freddy acquired annular characteristics on 14 February, bearing a symmetrical appearance and a well-defined {{convert|10|nmi|mi km|1|order=out}} wide pinhole eye, which was largely surrounded by central dense overcast.{{cite JTWC|date=15 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=25|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-15-0300-sh1123prog.txt}} On 15 February at 03:00 UTC, the JTWC reported that the cyclone re-strengthened and underwent another period of rapid intensification, reaching Category 4-equivalent intensity.{{Cite news |last=Cappucci |first=Matthew |title=Cyclone Freddy teeters on brink of Category 5 strength in Indian Ocean |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/16/cyclone-freddy-indian-ocean-madagascar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217084340/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/16/cyclone-freddy-indian-ocean-madagascar/ |archive-date=17 February 2023 |access-date=17 February 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} After maintaining Category 4 intensity for about 12 hours, Freddy weakened slightly before restrengthening to Category 5 intensity on 19 February, with the JTWC reporting 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|140|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}.{{Cite web |title=2023 Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy (2023037S12119) |url=https://ncics.org/ibtracs/index.php?name=v04r00-2023037S12119 |access-date=15 January 2025 |publisher=International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship}}{{Cite web |title=Annual 2023 Tropical Cyclones Report {{!}} National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/tropical-cyclones/202313 |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=www.ncei.noaa.gov |language=en}} The cyclone's cloud tops warmed to {{convert|-74|C|F|abbr=on|order=flip}}, causing the system to display annular characteristics. Additionally, the storm's eye expanded to a diameter of {{convert|25|nmi|mi km|0|order=out}}.{{cite JTWC|date=19 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=33|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-19-0230-sh1123prog.txt}} Concurrently, the cyclone was assigned a T7.0 rating via the Dvorak technique—a method of determining a tropical cyclone's intensity based on satellite appearance. Around 00:00 UTC that day, the MFR upgraded Freddy to a very intense tropical cyclone estimated a minimum barometric pressure of {{convert|931|hPa|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} and 10-minute sustained winds of {{convert|120|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302190145.pdf |title=Very Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (19/7/20222023) |date=19 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219045438/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302190145.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2023 |accessdate=19 February 2023}} However, in the best track for Freddy, the MFR concluded a peak wind speed of {{convert|125|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}, and minimum central pressure of {{convert|927|hPa|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}}. The cyclone then turned west-southwestward, along the northern edge of a mid-level subtropical high.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302190600_FREDDY.pdf |title=Very Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (20/7/20222023) |date=19 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |accessdate=19 February 2023 |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164059/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302190600_FREDDY.pdf |url-status=live }}File:NASA Tracks Freddy, Longest-lived Tropical Cyclone on Record.webmAfter reaching its peak intensity, the cyclone's eye pattern quickly deteriorated as the cloud tops warmed on 20 February, while it was traversing north of the Mascarene Islands.{{cite JTWC|date=20 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=36|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-20-1450-sh1123prog.txt}} Later, an eyewall replacement cycle occurred,{{cite JTWC|date=21 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=37|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-21-0320-sh1123prog.txt}} causing the storm to weaken.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302200118.pdf |title=Intense Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (23/7/20222023) |date=20 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |accessdate=20 February 2023 |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221064115/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302200118.pdf |url-status=live }} Late on 21 February, the cyclone developed a well-defined {{convert|6|nmi|mi km|0|order=out}} pinhole eye while approaching Madagascar as a compact tropical cyclone.{{cite JTWC|date=21 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=38|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-21-1400-sh1123prog.txt}} Around 18:00 UTC that day, the cyclone made landfall near Mananjary, Madagascar,{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Jeff |date=21 February 2023 |title=Category 3 Cyclone Freddy hits Madagascar » Yale Climate Connections |url=http://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/02/category-3-cyclone-freddy-hits-madagascar/ |access-date=14 July 2024 |website=Yale Climate Connections |language=en-US |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164121/https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/02/category-3-cyclone-freddy-hits-madagascar/ |url-status=live }} with the JTWC estimating winds of {{convert|95|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}.{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Freddy Moving Across Madagascar, Then A Flood Danger For Mozambique |url=https://www.wunderground.com/article/storms/hurricane/news/2023-02-20-tropical-cyclone-freddy-forecast-madagascar-mozambique |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=www.wunderground.com |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222051300/https://www.wunderground.com/article/storms/hurricane/news/2023-02-20-tropical-cyclone-freddy-forecast-madagascar-mozambique |url-status=live }} This made Freddy the strongest storm to impact the island nation since Cyclone Batsirai a year earlier.{{Cite news |last=Livingston |first=Ian |date=21 February 2023 |title=Powerful cyclone Freddy making landfall in Madagascar |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/21/madagascar-freddy-cyclone-indian-ocean/ |access-date=3 August 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=22 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222045117/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/21/madagascar-freddy-cyclone-indian-ocean/ |url-status=live }} It then rapidly weakened upon encountering the mountainous terrain of the island nation and was downgraded to overland depression status.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302211905.pdf |title=Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (30/7/20222023) |date=21 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222114957/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302211905.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=21 February 2023}} After crossing Madagascar, the cyclone's circulation became exposed, and deep convection was stripped away from the center on 22 February.{{cite JTWC|date=22 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=40|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-22-1340-sh1123prog.txt}} Moving west-northwestward in response to a subtropical ridge to the west,{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302220600_FREDDY.pdf |title=Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (32/7/20222023) |date=22 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723060048/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302220600_FREDDY.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2024 |url-status=live |accessdate=22 February 2023 }} Freddy emerged over the Mozambique Channel on 23 February.{{cite JTWC|date=22 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=39|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-22-0240-sh1123prog.txt}} Afterwards, the cyclone's convection increased in the northern semicircle, and by around 06:00 UTC, Freddy had strengthened into a moderate tropical storm.{{cite JTWC|date=23 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=41|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-23-0230-sh1123prog.txt}} Steered by a subtropical ridge to the south,{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302230818.pdf |title=Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (36/7/20222023) |date=23 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223141939/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302230818.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=23 February 2023}} the cyclone moved westward and quickly intensified into a severe tropical storm around 12:00 UTC that day, with convection wrapping around its center.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302240138.pdf |title=Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (39/7/20222023) |date=24 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |url-status=live |accessdate=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224044045/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302240138.pdf }} An automated weather station on Europa Island indicated that Freddy had wind gusts up to {{convert|50-60|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|sortable=on}} after passing north of the island.{{cite JTWC|date=23 February 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=43|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-02-24-0230-sh1123prog.txt}} Around 12:00 UTC on 24 February, the storm made landfall in Mozambique south of Vilankulos, with winds about {{convert|45|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}, just below severe tropical storm strength.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302241339.pdf |title=Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (41/7/20222023) |date=24 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |url-status=live |accessdate=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224141719/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302241339.pdf }} It then rapidly weakened as it moved westward and further inland, eventually weakening to overland depression status around 18:00 UTC that day.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302241851.pdf |title=Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (42/7/20222023) |date=24 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |url-status=live |accessdate=24 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224231538/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302241851.pdf }} The system's convective activity was concentrated in the southeastern semicircle over Mozambique on 25 February.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302250620.pdf |title=Overland Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (44/7/20222023) |date=25 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225074309/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202302250620.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=25 February 2023}} Freddy's remnant low continued moving into Zimbabwe late on 26 February, where it stayed for a couple of days.

{{Image frame|content=200px200px|width=400|align=left|caption=Freddy was intensifying off the coast of Madagascar on 7 March (left) and remained nearly stationary off the coast of Mozambique on 11 March (right).}}

As early as 26 February, the MFR anticipated that a large low-pressure circulation associated with Freddy would move back toward the coast of Mozambique due to the influence of a trough over the southern Mozambique Channel and a near-equatorial ridge to the north.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202302261154.pdf |title=Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean |date=26 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |url-status=live |accessdate=26 February 2023 |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164601/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202302261154.pdf }} Projections from computer models also indicated that the system would redevelop into a tropical cyclone.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202302280942.pdf |title=Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean |date=28 February 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301052350/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202302280942.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=28 February 2023}} Early on 1 March, Freddy emerged again into the channel—benefiting from favorable environmental conditions such as low vertical wind shear, good upper-level divergence,{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303021315.pdf|title=Tropical Disturbance 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (46/7/20222023)|date=2 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|accessdate=2 March 2023|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302133440/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303021315.pdf}} and sea surface temperatures of {{Convert|28-29|C|F|abbr=on}}.{{Cite JTWC|date=2 March 2023|type=abio|time=18Z|url=https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302073241/https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abioweb.txt}} The cyclone drifted slowly southward and struggled to intensify due to its broad circulation.{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303030729.pdf|title=Tropical Depression 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (50/7/20222023)|date=4 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=4 March 2023|archive-date=3 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303083619/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303030729.pdf}} At 06:00 UTC on 4 March, the MFR upgraded the system to a moderate tropical storm after an advanced scatterometer showed winds of {{convert|44|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} in the southern semicircle.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303040718.pdf |title=Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (51/7/20222023) |date=4 March 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304083732/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303040718.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2023 |url-status=live}} It was also noted that Freddy was tracking towards the eastward—under the increasing influence of the near-equatorial ridge to the north—as it developed a consolidating low-level circulation.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303051310.pdf |title=Moderate Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (56/7/20222023) |date=5 March 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305144041/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303051310.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2023 |url-status=live}}

The cyclone further intensified strengthened into a severe tropical storm status as it accelerated eastward toward the coast of Madagascar early on 5 March.{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303051948.pdf|title=Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (57/7/20222023)|date=5 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2023|archive-date=5 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305221359/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303051948.pdf}} Meandering along the Madagascar coast,{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303070731.pdf|title=Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (63/7/20222023)|date=7 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=7 March 2023|archive-date=7 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307075949/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303070731.pdf}} the cyclone unexpectedly intensified—developing an ill-defined eye—which prompted the MFR to upgrade it to tropical cyclone status with sustained winds of {{convert|80|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}} by 12:00 UTC on 7 March.{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303071314.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (64/7/20222023)|date=7 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=7 March 2023|archive-date=7 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307133132/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303071314.pdf}} Freddy's eye disappeared from satellite imagery six hours later due to the effects of southern wind shear.{{cite report |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303080600_FREDDY.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (67/7/20222023) |date=8 March 2023 |publisher=Météo-France |access-date=8 March 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164609/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303080600_FREDDY.pdf }} The cyclone's motion accelerated and shifted northwestward under the northeastern side of the steering subtropical ridge early on 9 March. The cyclone rapidly weakened to slightly below minimal tropical storm strength due to increased wind shear and dry air intrusion.{{cite JTWC|date=9 March 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=54|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-03-09-0240-sh1123prog.txt}} Despite this,{{cite JTWC|date=10 March 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=56|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-03-10-0310-sh1123prog.txt}} the cyclone managed to steadily quickly—developing banding features.{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303090740.pdf|title=Severe Tropical Storm 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (71/7/20222023)|date=8 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=9 March 2023|archive-date=9 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309090201/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303090740.pdf}} The cyclone rapidly re-strengthened and made landfall for the final time near Quelimane, Mozambique at 18:00 UTC on 11 March,{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303111941.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (81/7/20222023)|date=11 March 2023|url-status=live|access-date=11 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|archive-date=12 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312003403/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303111941.pdf}} with the JTWC estimated winds of about {{convert|95|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|order=out|round=5|sortable=on}}{{cite report|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303110123.pdf|title=Tropical Cyclone 07 (Freddy) Warning Number (78/7/20222023)|date=11 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|access-date=11 March 2023|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311030639/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSA_202303110123.pdf}}—featured a well-defined eye within its compact and symmetrical dense overcast.{{cite JTWC|date=11 March 2023|type=prog|category=TC|designation=11S|no=59|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/prog/2023-03-11-1340-sh1123prog.txt}} Within two hours, the eye of Freddy disappeared from satellite imagery, and it was estimated to have fallen below tropical cyclone status on 12 March.{{cite JTWC|date=11 March 2023|type=warn|category=TC|designation=11S|no=60|name=Freddy|url=https://wiki.chlod.net/jtwc/text/2023-03-12-0250-sh1123web.txt}} The JTWC described the cyclone as "a B-reel horror movie that never ends", and concluded, "It may not stay overland for long." The computer models predicted that the cyclone would turn eastward and re-emerge in the channel;{{cite report|title=Bulletin for Cyclonic Activity and Significant Tropical Weather in the Southwest Indian Ocean|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202303141207.pdf|date=14 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023|publisher=Météo-France|url-status=live|archive-date=26 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164638/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITA_202303141207.pdf}} however, it ultimately moved northwestward inland, bringing rain to Malawi and Mozambique before dissipating on 14 March.{{Cite web |title=Best Track Data on Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy (07)|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/archives/saisons_archivees/20222023/2022RE07.html |publisher=Météo-France |access-date=15 March 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313015452/http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/activiteope/data/20222023/2022RE07.html |url-status=live }}

File:Freddy 2023-03-12 1050Z.jpg

Freddy's 36-day duration makes it the longest-lasting tropical cyclone to be recorded worldwide, in terms of the number of days maintaining tropical storm status or higher, surpassing Hurricane John's previous record of 31-days in the 1994 season.{{Cite web |date=1 July 2024 |title=Tropical Cyclone Freddy is the longest tropical cyclone on record at 36 days: WMO |url=https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/tropical-cyclone-freddy-longest-tropical-cyclone-record-36-days-wmo |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=World Meteorological Organization |language=en |archive-date=2 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702083656/https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/tropical-cyclone-freddy-longest-tropical-cyclone-record-36-days-wmo |url-status=live }} Additionally, Freddy was the second-farthest traveling tropical cyclone globally, covering a distance of {{convert|12,785|km|mi|abbr=on|round=5}}, which is approximately 33% of the Earth's circumference—just shy of 1994's Hurricane John, which covered {{convert|13,180|km|mi|abbr=on|round=5}}. The cyclone killed at least 1,434 people, making it the third deadliest tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, behind only 2019's Cyclone Idai and the 1973 Flores cyclone.{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Jeff |date=5 May 2023 |title=Five of Africa's top 30 deadliest weather disasters have occurred since 2022 » Yale Climate Connections |url=http://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/05/five-of-africas-top-30-deadliest-weather-disasters-have-occurred-since-2022/ |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=Yale Climate Connections |language=en-US}}

In addition, it achieved the highest accumulated cyclone energy—a metric used to measure the total energy generated by tropical cyclones—of any tropical cyclone worldwide, with a total of 87.01, exceeding the previous record set by Hurricane Ioke in 2006.{{Cite web |last=Sangomla |first=Akshit |date=15 March 2023 |title=The cyclone that lived longest: How Freddy broke all kinds of records |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/the-cyclone-that-lived-longest-how-freddy-broke-all-kinds-of-records-88258 |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=Down To Earth |language=en |archive-date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726164606/https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/the-cyclone-that-lived-longest-how-freddy-broke-all-kinds-of-records-88258 |url-status=live }} It later became the first tropical cyclone to undergo seven separate rounds of rapid intensification.{{Cite news |last=Cappucci |first=Matthew |date=7 March 2023 |title=Deadly cyclone Freddy has become Earth's longest-lived tropical storm |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/03/07/cyclone-freddy-indian-ocean-hurricane/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307222002/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/03/07/cyclone-freddy-indian-ocean-hurricane/ |archive-date=7 March 2023 |access-date=7 March 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} It exceeded the previous records held by Hurricane Norman in 2018, Hurricane Emily in 2005, and 1994's Hurricane John.{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Jeff |date=10 March 2023 |title=Record-breaking Cyclone Freddy approaches Mozambique — again » Yale Climate Connections |url=http://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/03/record-breaking-cyclone-freddy-approaches-mozambique-again/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=Yale Climate Connections |language=en-US |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311011114/https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/03/record-breaking-cyclone-freddy-approaches-mozambique-again/ |url-status=live }} Further, it was one of only five systems to traverse the entirety of the southern Indian Ocean from east to west; the others were Cyclone Litanne in 1994 as well as Leon-Eline, Hudah in 2000, and Dikeledi in 2025.{{Cite web |title=Tropical Cyclone Freddy Breaks Records before Lashing Madagascar |url=https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/tropical-cyclone-freddy-breaks-records-lashing-madagascar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226120452/https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/tropical-cyclone-freddy-breaks-records-lashing-madagascar |archive-date=26 February 2023 |access-date=26 February 2023 |website=National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service |language=en}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane – The longest-lived Atlantic hurricane and third-longest-lived tropical cyclone globally
• Cyclones Katrina and Victor–Cindy (1998) – An extremely long-lived tropical cyclone in the South Pacific that eventually regenerated into another cyclone in the Indian Ocean
• Hurricanes Dora in 1999 and in 2023 – Both tracked across all three north Pacific basins

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{{Spoken Wikipedia|Wikipedia - Meteorological history of Cyclone Freddy (spoken by AI voice).mp3|date=January 18, 2025}}

• {{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Hao-Yan |last2=Satoh |first2=Masaki |last3=Gu |first3=Jian-Feng |last4=Lei |first4=Lili |last5=Tang |first5=Jianping |last6=Tan |first6=Zhe-Min |last7=Wang |first7=Yuqing |last8=Xu |first8=Jing |date=28 October 2023 |title=Predictability of the Most Long-Lived Tropical Cyclone Freddy (2023) During Its Westward Journey Through the Southern Tropical Indian Ocean |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |language=en |volume=50 |issue=20 |bibcode=2023GeoRL..5005729L |doi=10.1029/2023GL105729 |doi-access=free |ref={{sfnRef|Liu et al.|2023}}}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Perry |first1=Zaine |last2=Rapolaki |first2=Ramontsheng |last3=Roffe |first3=Sarah |last4=Ragoasha |first4=Moagabo |title=Analysing the atmospheric-oceanic conditions driving the sustained long track and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Freddy |journal=Tropical Cyclone Research and Review |date=December 2024 |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=356–388 |doi=10.1016/j.tcrr.2024.11.008 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2024TCRR...13..356P |ref={{sfnRef|Perry et al.|2024}}}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meteorological history of Cyclone Freddy}}

Category:Cyclone Freddy

Freddy