Meteorology / Freddy: The Longest tropical cyclone in history
In February-March 2023, Southeast Africa experienced an exceptional meteorological event: Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Now recorded in the annals of global meteorology, Freddy set all-time records for duration, as confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
An international committee of WMO experts recently validated that Freddy maintained its status as a tropical storm or stronger for a record-breaking 36 days. This makes Freddy the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded, surpassing the previous record held by Cyclone John, which maintained its status for 714 hours, or about 29.75 days.
While Cyclone John still holds the record for the greatest distance traveled by a tropical storm, at 13.159 kilometers, Freddy is not far behind, having covered an impressive 12.785 kilometers during its destructive journey across the ocean.
The impact of Freddy on the region was devastating both in human and economic terms. Local authorities and international organizations had to mobilize considerable efforts to address the needs of affected populations and to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
Freddy not only marks a historic meteorological event but also underscores the critical importance of disaster preparedness and community resilience in the face of such extreme climatic phenomena.
