Australia to Africa in 36 days: Freddy was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone in history

Freddy traveled roughly a third of Earth’s circumference in 36 days. Credit: NOAA

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has declared Tropical Cyclone Freddy to be the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record, at 36 days. Freddy crossed from Australia to Africa from February 4 to March 14, 2023, causing major human and economic losses in the worst-affected countries.

A WMO international committee of experts working under the auspices of the Weather and Climate Extremes Archive, including Sim Aberson from NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory, conducted a detailed analysis and verification of the distance and duration. The evaluation committee recognized Tropical Cyclone Freddy’s duration of 36 days at tropical storm status or higher as the new world record for the longest tropical cyclone duration. In terms of distance, the WMO analysis indicated that TC Freddy traveled 12,785 km (7,945 miles, 6,905 nautical miles) at tropical storm status or above. To put that number in perspective, that distance is nearly 33% of the Earth’s circumference.