MSGID: 1:317/3 63f11256   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   February 18, 2023 - Powerful Tropical Cyclone Freddy crossing the Indian   
   Ocean   
      
      Freddy   
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      NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a true-color image of Intense Tropical   
      Cyclone Freddy tracking westward across the Indian Ocean on February   
      17, 2023. It was located roughly half-way between Indonesia, where it   
      formed on February 6, and Madagascar—where it is likely to make   
      landfall by February 21.   
      
      Near the time the image was captured, the compact storm with a large,   
      distinct eye was carrying maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph (225   
      km/h), placing it as a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane   
      Wind Scale. While still quite strong, Freddy had diminished from its   
      peak strength. On February 15, maximum sustained winds had reached 165   
      mph (266 mph), or the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.   
      
      Not only is Tropical Cyclone Freddy a remarkably strong storm, it is on   
      track to become one of the longest-tracking in the region. Weather   
      Underground reports that of all cyclones in the southern Indian Ocean   
      that became Category 1 intensity, only one previous storm has tracked   
      from near Indonesia all the way to Madagascar. That was Cyclone   
      Eline/Leone in February 2000, and it was a destructive storm that also   
      struck Africa and travelled well inland.   
      
      Tropical Cyclone Freddy appears to be on a similar track. It is   
      forecast to make landfall on Madagascar between February 20-21 carrying   
      maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph (145 km/h), or the equivalent   
      of a strong Category 1 hurricane. After moving over the island, it may   
      strengthen over the Mozambique Channel before making a second landfall   
      in Mozambique.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 2/17/2023   
      Resolutions:  1km (1.8 MB),  500m (4.8 MB),  250m (3.6 MB)   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2023-02-18   
       
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