The United Nations has confirmed that Cyclone Freddy, which devastated Africa last year after sweeping across the southern Indian Ocean, was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) verified that Freddy’s 36-day duration surpassed the previous record held by Tropical Storm John in 1994, which lasted 29.75 days. Despite Freddy’s extended lifespan, Tropical Storm John still holds the record for traveling the farthest distance, covering 13,159 km across the North Pacific Ocean compared to Freddy’s 12,785 km.
Chris Velden, a tropical storm and satellite expert at the University of Wisconsin, described Freddy as a remarkable cyclone due to its long duration and multiple ground interactions, which had significant consequences for people in southeast Africa. While the WMO does not directly attribute Freddy’s long lifespan to climate change caused by human activity, they acknowledge that climate change is associated with an increased risk of severe storms. Rising ocean temperatures also contribute to the destructive power of these storms, making monitoring and recording essential for informing policy decisions and understanding the changing climate and impacts of extreme weather.
Freddy formed off the coast of northwestern Australia and became a named storm on February 6. It made landfall in Madagascar on February 21 and Mozambique on February 24, causing fatalities, heavy rains, and flooding in both countries. The storm then circled back along the coast, gaining strength and causing further devastation in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. By mid-March, Freddy had dissipated after causing widespread damage and claiming over 1,200 lives, with millions of people affected in the region.
The total damage caused by Cyclone Freddy was estimated at $481 million, according to the African Union’s Africa Risk Capacity. The long-lasting and destructive nature of Freddy serves as a reminder of the increasing impact of severe storms in a changing climate.