Cyclone Freddy developed into a Very Intense Tropical Cyclone on February 20 and is forecasted to hit Madagascar this week, with possible casualties. The country was previously affected by Chenesco, which struck a month ago and resulted in several deaths. Freddy is said to cause much more damage.
The winds are estimated to reach 140 mph, with a category 4 cyclone intensity or Very Intense Tropical Cyclone. Despite the projected reduction in the intensity over coming days, once Freddy makes landfall in Madagascar, the wind speed will be about 100 mph within a category 2 cyclone. There is also a high risk of landslides occurring due to harsh winds and a possible rainfall of 100-200 mm.
Freddy has travelled across the Indian Ocean in the past few weeks and upgraded into a category 1 cyclone in February, south of Indonesia. The cyclone has had a long journey of 4,000 miles across the ocean for 14 days to where it is now, about 1,00 miles away from the east coast of Madagascar.
So far, only two other cyclones have journeyed across the Indian Ocean: Eline and Hudah, both in 2000. Though Freddy is said to be a long-lasting cyclone to have travelled across the ocean, it is not yet the farthest travelled and long-lasting.
In 1994, Hurricane John, also known as Typhoon John, travelled over 7,000 miles in 31 days. The hurricane developed off the eastern Pacific and reached the west as a typhoon because it existed in the east and west basins of the Pacific Ocean.
When Freddy makes landfall, its contact with the elevated land and reduced moisture source will weaken it, while the winds will reduce to about 50 mph when the cyclone clears the western side of Madagascar.
As Freddy moves back into the water, it will gain momentum, making its way to landfall in mainland Africa, in Mozambique, by February 23 in the form of a tropical storm.
