Weather: Cyclone Freddy Causes Havoc for Madagascar

Cyclone Freddy travelled for more than 15 days over 7,000 km (4,350 miles) of the Indian Ocean before making landfall on Madagascar this week, according to Britain’s national weather service, the Met Office.

Published 2 years ago

Cyclone Freddy made landfall on Madagascar nearly a month after storm Cheneso battered the island nation of 29 million, killing 33 people and forcing thousands from their homes.

The cyclone passed 120 km northwest of Mauritius on Monday afternoon, February 20, forcing people into shelters, and damaging power lines before bearing down on Madagascar.

Madagascar is hit by an average of 1.5 cyclones every year, the highest in Africa, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Cyclone Freddy over Madagascar – image from JWTC

After crossing Madagascar, Freddy could emerge in the Mozambican Channel and strengthen again, before making landfall in Mozambique and potentially moving on to Zimbabwe.

The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) said Cyclone Freddy had passed southeast of Antananarivo on Madagascar and was tracking west-southwestward at 16 knots with maximum sustained surface winds estimated at 100 knots, gusting to 125 knots.

“Cyclone Freddy will pass directly over the French possession of Europa Island, before making landfall on the Inhambane coast on Friday February 24″, according to a JTWC bulletin. The forecast wind speed is 65 knots (120.38 kilometres per hour ).  Freddy’s projected course will then take it towards Zimbabwe, but by then the cyclone is likely to be dissipating.”

Cyclone Freddy’s projected track from the US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Related News:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Related Links:

Read and Post Related Comments

Related to the following Cruising Resources: ,


You must Login or Register to submit comments.