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Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy, also known as Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy, was an exceptionally long-lived, powerful, and deadly tropical cyclone that traversed the southern Indian Ocean for more than five weeks in February and March 2023. Freddy was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide, and produced the most accumulated cyclone energy—a metric used to measure the total energy generated by tropical cyclones—of any individual cyclone on record globally. Additionally, it is the third-deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, only behind 2019's Cyclone Idai and the 1973 Flores cyclone.
Freddy originated from a tropical low that was located south of the Indonesian archipelago on 4 February 2023. As it traveled westward across the Indian Ocean, the storm quickly intensified, becoming a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian scale. Freddy moved into the South-West Indian Ocean, where it reached its peak intensity with 10-minute sustained winds of and a central atmospheric pressure of , making it a very intense tropical cyclone. Meanwhile, 1-minute sustained winds reached , corresponding to Category 5-equivalent intensity on the Saffir–Simpson scale. After reaching its peak intensity, the cyclone moved toward the northern Mascarene Islands and made landfall near Mananjary, Madagascar on 21 February. It weakened further across Madagascar but regained strength upon reaching the Mozambique Channel, where it intensified and made its second landfall near Vilankulos, Mozambique on 24 February. After moving across Mozambique, the cyclone endured and re-entered the channel on 1 March. It then regained its tropical characteristics and started moving along the coast of Madagascar. Freddy intensified again before making its final landfall near Quelimane, Mozambique on 11 March. It then rapidly weakened as it moved inland and dissipated by 14 March.
Preparations for the storm in the Mascarene Islands included flight groundings, cyclone alerts, and personnel being prepped for the aftermath, among other things. In Madagascar, areas previously affected by Cyclones Cyclone Batsirai and Cyclone Cheneso were feared to be worsened by the storm's arrival. Impacts in Mozambique were more severe than in Madagascar and included heavy rainfall in the southern half of the country and widely damaged infrastructure. Effects in Mozambique were exacerbated after its second landfall with further floods and wind damage. The hardest-hit was Malawi where incessant rains caused catastrophic flash floods, especially Blantyre. The nation's power grid was crippled, with its hydroelectric dam rendered inoperable. Overall, the cyclone resulted in at least 1,434 fatalities, 2,004 injuries, 19 people missing, and caused about US$1.53 billion in damage. Consequently, due to the extensive damage and loss of life, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has retired the name Freddy from the Australian rotating naming lists, and a replacement name has yet to be announced.
On 19 February, the MFR upgraded Freddy to a very intense tropical cyclone based on a Dvorak technique rating of T7.0, with 10-minute sustained winds of and an estimated barometric pressure of . In post-analysis, the MFR concluded a peak wind speed of , and minimum central pressure of . The system reached Category 5-equivalent intensity, with the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reporting 1-minute sustained winds of . The cyclone's eye pattern quickly deteriorated while it was traversing north of the Mascarene Islands. Freddy made landfall as a strong Category 2-equivalent intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of near Mananjary, Madagascar on 21 February. This made Freddy the strongest storm to impact the island nation since Cyclone Batsirai a year earlier.Multiple sources:
After crossing Madagascar, its circulation became exposed, and the deep convection was stripped away from the center. Freddy emerged into the Mozambique Channel, quickly re-intensifying into a severe tropical storm on 23 February. Freddy reached Mozambique south of Vilankulos on 24 February, bringing winds of , which was just shy of severe tropical storm intensity, before moving into Zimbabwe late on 26 February, where it remained for a couple of days. Freddy entered the channel early on 1 March and continued to intensify, reaching tropical cyclone status as it accelerated eastward towards the coast of Madagascar on 5 March, but then weakened to just below minimal tropical storm strength due to increased wind shear and dry air intrusion. Freddy rapidly intensified once more and made its final landfall near Quelimane, Mozambique, with the JTWC estimated winds of about on 11 March; however, the storm's circulation dissipated shortly thereafter, marking the end of Freddy's time as a tropical cyclone on 14 March.Multiple sources:
On 18 February, a cyclone yellow pre-alert was issued for the island of Réunion by the MFR. The following day, this was upgraded to an orange alert which prompted all schools to close. Hospital patients whose conditions did not require immediate treatment were to return home while those with more care-intensive needs were to be transported to designated facilities. The island's power company, EDF La Réunion, prepped 200 personnel with a further 100 people from subcontracted companies for immediate repairs once storm conditions subsided. Call centers were staffed with 60 additional workers. The company also prepped 50 vehicles, electrical equipment, 15 generators, and 4 helicopters for use. Residents in areas hard-hit by Cyclone Batsirai in February 2022 worried of exacerbated damage upon Freddy's arrival. Authorities in Le Tampon were mobilizing for the system's arrival. High seas prompted the closure of the Nouvelle route du Littoral with bus shuttles established to transport residents through inland routes to and from communities in the north and west. On 20 February, the RSMA-R mobilized 250 personnel for relief efforts. All service at Roland Garros Airport was suspended the same day, with service to resume following the cyclone's passage. A red alert for coastal flooding was issued for areas between Champs Borne and Pointe des Cascades. The city of Saint-Benoît opened two public shelters and closed all sporting facilities. Officials in Saint-Pierre postponed a local carnival for more than two weeks.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Madagascar announced it was preparing for the cyclone. Météo-France noted on 19 February that accumulations for were possible for the southern regions of Madagascar. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System estimated over 2.2 million people would be affected by Freddy's storm surge and flooding in the country. Tents, ropes, chainsaws, and other supplies have been sent by the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) to the eastern districts. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners deployed 80 humanitarian staff to Mahanoro, Mananjary, and Manakara, and placed two aircraft on standby. The agency was unable to sufficiently allocate emergency supplies due to a lack of funding and shortages from Cyclone Cheneso the month prior. Medair already had field offices in place after Cyclone Cheneso in southern and southeastern Madagascar. Emphasis was placed on providing clean drinking water and emergency kits to residents in Marondava and Maroansetra. At least 7,000 people were pre-emptively evacuated from at-risk coastal regions before Freddy's arrival.
During March 2023, as Freddy approached a second time, the Mozambique National Meteorology Institute (INAM) predicted torrential rains of more than in 24 hours in the provinces of Manica Province, Sofala Province, Tete Province, and Zambezia. Peak rainfall was forecasted to be between . According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), approximately 565,000 people were at risk, though a United Nations and European Union-led disaster alert predicted 2.3 million were at risk. Thousands were moved to evacuation shelters as precaution. Cyclone Freddy was expected to hit Malawi, and bring with it torrential rains and damaging winds to the southern region. Forecasts predicted accumulations of rainfall there could reach . The Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of all classes in districts at risk.
| + Deaths and damage by country | |||||
| Madagascar | 17 | 3 | 299,000 | ||
| Malawi | 1,216 | 1,724 | >500,000 | ||
| Mauritius | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2,500 | |
| Mozambique | 198 | 280 | ≥1,074,970 | ||
| Réunion | 0 | 0 | 0 | ≥25,000 | |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
Around 4:00 a.m. local time on 20 February, contact was lost with the Taiwanese-flagged fishing trawler LV Lien Sheng Fa with a crew of 16 just outside the territorial waters of Mauritius. The crew included a Taiwanese captain and 15 Indonesian fishermen. An alert was sent out by Taiwan's Fisheries Agency for the missing vessel on 23 February. The MV Star Venture found the ship capsized on 25 February about northeast of Mauritius within the nation's exclusive economic zone. Later sorties by the aircraft Dornier and the ship CGA Baracuda failed to find any survivors. Mauritius deployed a diving team to confirm the identity of the ship. The vessel's lifeboat was confirmed to have been deployed; however, it has not been found as of 3 March.
Freddy impacted Réunion on 20–21 February, with its effects being relatively limited. Nearly 25,000 customers were left without power at the height of the cyclone; all but 500 had their service restored within a day. In Saint-Paul, 20 tons of mangoes were destroyed. Highway RD48 in Salazie was closed due to a landslide. Eleven mobile sites maintained by Orange S.A. were knocked offline in Tampon, Saint-Louis, and Saint-Paul. On 23 February, on the backside of the storm led to temperatures reaching along the southwestern coast of Réunion.
On its second arrival, Cyclone Freddy brought severe rains to the southwestern portion of the country. At least 72,600 people were affected by the cyclone, including 20 people who were displaced, of whom 16,367 are in 34 temporary sites in several districts, and over 7,900 are living with relatives in the regions of Menabe and Atsimo Andrefana. 158 of which were destroyed, 67 of which were damaged, and 55 of which had no roofs. Overall, 12,400 houses (6,000 of which were flooded, 900 of which were damaged, and 5,500 of which were destroyed) and 280 classrooms, some 28,000 students were prevented from attending school. Ten people have died and three were missing.
In March 2023, Freddy made its second landfall in Zambezia Province on 11 March, bringing torrential rainfall, storm surge, and much stronger winds compared to the prior landfall. The Zambezi and Tambarara river basins had reported above-average water levels before its landfall. The power utility had turned off the electricity completely as a precaution against the cyclone. Locals reported seeing roofs torn off houses, broken windows, and streets flooded in Quelimane. Sustained winds of , gusting up to were recorded in the city. All flights were suspended due to the inclement weather brought by Freddy.
Communications and electrical supplies were cut early into the storm, hampering damage assessments. Power company Electricidade de Moçambique said that most areas had electricity restored by 11 March mid-afternoon. The nation's UNICEF chief of advocacy, communications, and partnerships, Guy Taylor, stated that there was "lots of destruction", and that Freddy was "potentially a disaster of large magnitude". Taylor also noted that rural areas were completely destroyed. Access to clean water was effectively cut off in Quelimane.
The nation saw a year's worth of rainfall in just 4 weeks. Locals said localized flooding was an issue even before landfall. In a preliminary satellite evaluation of of land, was estimated to be flooded. Widespread areas received over of rainfall, with smaller, localized pockets of , eclipsing the maximum accumulations of Cyclone Idai 4 years earlier. 348,000 hectares of cropland were damaged, and over 800,000 people were living in flooded areas following Freddy. Cholera cases also increased among affected populations. A total of 8 provinces were damaged by the cyclone. 1,017 schools took a hit, and more than of road was damaged. This includes the main national road, N1, which was restored by 21 March. A total of 103,000 houses were destroyed, and another 25,000 had been flooded. Some 15,000 people were stranded when they moved to higher ground for protection.The old provincial hospital in Quelimane had its roof blown off, making supporting those in need more difficult. Many people were left homeless during the storm and took shelter in schools, the latter being turned into reception areas. Large amounts of crop fields were flooded as well. The INGD stated that the storm's effects on Mozambique were worse than expected. Freddy affected areas were initially deemed safe beforehand. Overall, Freddy caused at least 143 deaths on its second arrival. At least 886,487 people were affected as well. An estimated 49,000 were displaced and another 280 were injured. At least 22 deaths from cholera were blamed on Freddy and the subsequent flooding. The National Roads Administration (ANE) claimed that NT18.3 billion (US$290 million) was required for road re-construction.
At least 1,216 people were killed in the onslaught of Freddy with 1,332 injuries reported. At least 192 of these deaths were reported in Blantyre, and at least 40 of whom were children according to Médecins Sans Frontières. 135 of them were in Mulanje as well. 180,000 people were displaced across the country and forced to evacuate their homes, with 500,000 affected in general. Among these 280,000 were children. There were also around 90 fatalities in Mulanje. More than 50,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. In terms of rainfall, over a month's worth of rain was dumped in just a day, totaling to six months of precipitation in six days. The small village of Mtauchira in Chiradzulu District was completely destroyed by a landslide that fell from Chambe Peak.
Over of general land was flooded, causing many smallholder farmers to have their crops and fields lost to the storm. Approximately 204,833 hectares of cropland were inundated - 84,930 being submerged and 119,930 were washed away. The storm struck just as farmers were about to harvest, compounding to local food insecurities in the nation. Farms were also damaged and many were destroyed. Livestock was severely impacted, with 194,500 dying and a further 91,000 being injured. Notable rainfall recordings include a record-setting in 24 hours in Phalombe District. Several other districts also reported in the same time range. Flood waters rose in some areas days after Freddy died, with an analyzed area of increasing by between 14 and 17 March. Houses whose foundations were weakened by the system also collapsed in Mangochi District.
Dozens of houses were reported being washed away in floodwaters in Chilobwe. Schools in ten southern regions were ordered to be closed until 15 March. Heavy rains also were reported in Salima and Lilongwe. Malawian president Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster in the southern regions. Victims were thought to be buried under rubble and debris. During Freddy's extended stay in the country, visibility remained at near-zero levels. Several roads and bridges were cut, and many areas were cut off. Landslides across Chiradzulu Mountain blocked roadways, leaving Chiradzulu Boma inaccessible. It was stated that 14 districts suffered impacts from Freddy, equating to over half the country. Chakwera also said that 36 roads were broken, nine bridges washed away, and there were still many villages inaccessible by 20 March. Total damage across the nation was calculated at US$506.7 million.
As a result of the major loss of life and damage in Malawi and surrounding countries, the name Freddy was removed from the rotating lists of Australian region cyclone names and will never be used to name a storm in that basin again. A replacement name is yet to be announced.
Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, appealed for aid and to rebuild infrastructure. He also provided MT250 million ($3.9 million) to Zambezia province to help restore everyday activities. The WFP requires $26.7 million to assist 541,000 people impacted by Cyclone Freddy. As a result of flooding caused by the storm as well as the cutoff of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, cholera cases began to rapidly increase. At least 36 districts spanning 8 provinces are having outbreaks; the Inhambane and Zambezia provinces, which were heavily affected by Freddy, have declared outbreaks of cholera. The cumulative figure for the cases by 21 March stood at 11,158 across the provinces, and other waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea and malaria were of risk. The INGD did not have food and supplies for immediate response, significantly slowing emergency aid. As the nation tries to contain a rapidly spreading outbreak, Mozambique has requested an additional 2 million doses of a cholera vaccine from the World Health Organization.
Food prices jumped by over 300%, quadrupling to record heights in Malawi, which was already a food-insecure nation. Maize prices also shot up 400% in places like Nsanje. The Everlasting Life Missionary Church donated assorted clothes to survivors in Zomba. They also fed children at camps, some of whom had not eaten at all since Freddy. They also sent out basic supplies such as body lotion, soap, and others. The crisis that ensued after Freddy also presented several negative mental health consequences among locals and frontline aid workers. Various protection services were interrupted (including childcare centers), and gender-based violence was highlighted as a prominent issue. Those affected also trafficked women, adolescent girls, and other children. Families were separated, leaving youth unattended and alone. EGENCO resumed operations at the Nkula and Tedzani power stations on 14 March as water along the Shire River returned to safer levels. Lazarus Chakwera declared a national two weeks of mourning for the victims of Freddy. The government promised $1.5 million for aid to those affected. The president surveyed the damage, calling it "far worse than the images and footage we've seen". Malawi's president Lazarus Chakwera has appealed for foreign assistance, claiming that the country requires $700 million for reconstruction.
The OCHA brought vital emergency supplies to the hardest-hit regions. These included medical items, hygiene kits, and even support boats from the World Food Programme for those trapped in floodwaters and rubble. By 16 March, Nsanje had set up 24 camps to accommodate 4,502 households, with Chikwawa having 21 camps for 8,837 homes. Malawian Former President Peter Mutharika has criticized the Chakwera administration of failing to evacuate people in the path of Cyclone Freddy before the disaster struck.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> 11S.FREDDY from the United States Naval Research Laboratory
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