Freddy broke the record for the number of times he weakened and then re-intensified, setting the record for the highest cumulative energy ever recorded by a single cyclone. That’s more energy over its lifetime than over a typical US hurricane season.
A long-running cyclone that refuses to dissipate hits Malawi and Mozambique, killing at least 56 people and leaving many others injured or missing.
at least 51 dead Malawi Five deaths have been confirmed in Mozambique.
Officials in Malawi expect the death toll to rise.
Cyclone Freddy hit Africa for the second time in a month on Saturday night, causing widespread devastation.
I broke the record for the number of times I was weakened and then re-strengthened – 7 times.
It is also set to be the longest tropical cyclone ever recorded, with the highest accumulated storm energy ever recorded. This is the amount of energy released by the cyclone at a given time.
So far, it has logged more energy than a typical US hurricane season overall.
The cyclone has yet to subside, warning that “the heaviest rainfall will continue over the next 48 hours,” according to the regional center of Meteor France, the French meteorological agency.
Freddy landed at the port of Quelimane in Mozambique’s Zambezia province on Saturday, with reports of damage to homes and farmland.
A family in Malawi has died after torrential winds and rain destroyed their home, officials said.
Authorities said among the victims was a 3-year-old child “trapped in the rubble” whose parents were reported missing.
Regarding the number of casualties and missing persons, Malawian police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said, “We are trying to compile one national report from police stations in the southwest, southeast and east covering the affected areas. Therefore, this number is expected to increase further.”
Last month, the storm moved across the entire South Indian Ocean from near Australia, hitting Madagascar and Réunion in its path.
The United Nations Meteorological Agency will determine if Freddie broke the record for the longest tropical cyclone of 31 days, set by Hurricane John in 1994.
Meteo-France also said Freddie should be calm and return to the sea on Wednesday.
Experts say fossil fuel climate change is not increasing the number of tropical cyclones overall, but it is increasing the number of violent and destructive storms in three key ways.
A warm atmosphere can hold more water, so storms can lead to extreme amounts of precipitation. Hotter oceans will also foster more intense storms, spreading tropical storms further north and south. Higher sea levels cause more damage during storm surges.