Tropical Cyclone Freddy strengthened over the Mozambique Channel on Thursday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Freddy was located at latitude 22.4°S and longitude 38.8°E which put it about 235 miles (380 km) east of Vilankulo, Mozambique. Freddy was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy strengthened again over warm water in the Mozambique Channel on Thursday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern and southern sides of the center of Freddy’s circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Freddy. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 105 miles (165 km) from the center of Freddy.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Freddy will move over over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge over southern Africa. The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Freddy’s circulation. The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the east. So, there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Freddy will intensify during the next 12 hours. Freddy could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over southern Africa. The high pressure system will steer Freddy toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Freddy will approach the coast of Mozambique in 15 hours. The center of Freddy will make landfall near Vilankulo. Tropical Cyclone Freddy could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it makes landfall. Freddy will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of southern Mozambique. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Freddy will cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the coast near Vilankulo.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Enala moved farther away from Diego Garcia. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Enala was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 71.7°E which put it about 705 miles (1135 km) south of Diego Garcia. Enala was moving toward the south-southwest at 13 m.p.h. (20 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.