The storm has survived for 31 days and rapidly intensified six times
The storm was born in the Indian Ocean on Feb. 6 and has been on a long, winding journey since, walloping both Madagascar and Mozambique and causing at least 21 deaths.
Now, poised to hit Mozambique for a second time, the storm has set a world record for tropical storm longevity, enduring 31 days and counting.
“At this time, it does appear to be a new record holder for ‘longest-lasting’ recorded tropical cyclone … but we are continuing to monitor the situation,” said Randall Cerveny, the World Meteorological Organization’s rapporteur for weather and climate extremes, in a news release.
Over its lifetime, Freddy has tracked more than 5,000 miles since it developed between Western Australia and Indonesia and even attained the strength of a Category 5 hurricane. It’s presently crossing the Mozambique Channel for a third time.
Remarkably, the storm has rapidly intensified six times.
Rapid intensification describes an uptick in winds of 35 mph or greater in 24 hours. Research has shown rapid intensification increasing in frequency in many ocean basins because of rising ocean temperatures linked to human-caused climate change.
Before Freddy, no previous storm in the Southern Hemisphere had rapidly intensified more than three times. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears that only three storms (Norman ’18, Emily ’05 and John ’94) have undergone four bouts of rapid intensification.
Freddy is continuing to strengthen now, coming off its sixth spate of swift strengthening. Just 24 hours ago, it was a tropical storm with sustained winds of 65 mph. Now it’s the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds just shy of 100 mph.
Forecasts call for continued strengthening, likely to Category 3 intensity, in the next 72 hours. In Mozambique, preparations are underway for the storm’s return visit after its first landfall there on Feb. 24. Ten people died, 8,000 people were displaced and 28,300 homes were destroyed. Over the past seven days, the storm unloaded up to 20 inches (500 millimeters) of rain on southern portions of the country, according to the WMO.
Freddy will probably be stronger when it hits Mozambique for a second time, though displaced somewhat to the north.