The passage of tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin over central-southern Vanuatu from February 28 to March 3, 2023, has caused widespread damage and devastation. According to the UN OCHA, 251 346 people, which is around 80% of the total population, have been affected by cyclones.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” has caused over 190 fatalities and displaced more than 11 000 people in southern Malawi and Mozambique. The cyclone made its second landfall in central Mozambique on March 11 and weakened as it moved northward inland over Zambezia and Tete provinces in Mozambique and southern Malawi.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is delivering potentially catastrophic amounts of rainfall over the Quelimane region of Mozambique as the storm stalls just 30 km (18 miles) offshore with winds of 175 km/h (110 mph). Over the past couple of weeks, heavy rains and floods in Mozambique claimed the lives of at least 117 people.
History is being made in the world of tropical cyclones, as Cyclone Freddy continues to make its mark. Born northwest of Australia on February 3, 2023, Freddy is now being called one-of-a-kind and the longest-lived cyclone ever documented.
Tropical Cyclone “Kevin” formed on March 1, 2023, between Vanuatu and Caledonia, as the 5th named storm of the 2022/23 South Pacific cyclone season. A Red Alert is in effect for Vanuatu’s provinces of Sanma, Malampa, and Penama. The cyclone comes just a couple of days after Tropical Cyclone “Judy” damaged a number of buildings in Vanuatu, caused power outages, and closed schools.
Category 3 – Severe Tropical Cyclone “Judy” is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rainfalls to Vanuatu’s central and southern islands.
Tropical Cyclone “Judy” formed on February 26, 2023, over the South Pacific Ocean and is now moving SW over the northern Vanuatu Islands. A Red Alert is in effect for Torba, Sanma, and Penama
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” made landfall over the northern Vatovavy-Fitovinany Region in central-eastern Madagascar on February 21, 2023, with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (102 mph).
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is expected to make landfall between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC on February 21, 2023, over the north of the province of Vatovavy-Fitovinany, Madagascar. After moving over Madagascar, bringing strong winds and heavy rains, the system will exit into the Mozambique Channel, re-intensify and then make landfall over Mozambique.
Tropical Cyclone “Freddy” is forecast to make landfall over the east-central coast of Madagascar on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, as an intense and very dangerous tropical system. The cyclone will then move over the island nation, exit into the Mozambique Channel on Wednesday and then re-intensify before making landfall over Mozambique.
