Cyclone Freddy to move into Mozambique this coming week

Freddy, a particularly powerful and compact tropical system, is an intense tropical cyclone that is generating extreme winds near its center, making it a very dangerous system.

By: Michelle Swart

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Cyclone Freddy to move into Madagascar and Mozambique

The cyclone’s zone of influence is reduced, with few effects felt beyond 200 km from the center.

On Tuesday, 21 February, the system could hit the east coast of Madagascar, resulting in considerable damage and heavy rainfall over the area.

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However, the system is expected to weaken over land due to the lack of warm moisture.

Later on Wednesday into Thursday, Freddy is expected to move into the Mozambique Channel, where it is expected to reintensify.

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Weather models volatile

Weather models at this stage are still volatile as to what the cyclone will do in the Mozambique Channel.

Currently, Freddy has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h, with maximum wind gusts of 260 km/h.

The center pressure is at 950hPa, and the system is moving at a speed of 19 km/h to the west.

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