A cyclone is a large airmass that rotates around a centre of low atmospheric pressure and is characterised by inward-spiralling winds.
In the northern hemisphere, cyclones rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, while in the southern hemisphere, rotation is clockwise.
The cyclone named Freddy is a very intense tropical cyclone that was first experienced as a disturbance within the monsoon trough on February 4.
Freddy was first experienced in Australia before the wind moved to the South-West Indian ocean.
Cyclone Freddy was named so by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
When it got to the South-West of the Indian Ocean, Freddy made its first landfall in Madagascar on February 19, reports said.
The Météo-France (MFR)-the French representative at the World Meteorological Organisation- estimated that the Freddy has a speed of 220km/h.
However, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated its speed to be 270 km/h at peak strength.
From Madagascar, the wind went Southwest towards Mozambique on February 24.
From February 20 to 21, cyclone Freddy moved to Mauritius and Réunion to the north.
The impacts of the cyclone include heavy rainfall and damage to properties and infrastructure.
The cyclone impacted Mozambique more than it did Madagascar.
In total, the cyclone killed 238 people.
A total of 199 people died in Malawi, 20 in Mozambique, 17 in Madagascar, and two died from its impact in Zimbabwe.
So far, Freddy has been the longest-lasting tropical cyclone worldwide.
This was before Hurricane John in 1994.
Cyclone Freddy is currently in Mozambique.
In Mozambique, it was estimated that more than 600,000 people would be affected by the cyclone.
The cyclone also brought prolonged rainfall which was feared would increase flooding in the area.
Rainfall predictions in Mozambique stood between 200-300mm in the southern part of Beira.
Mozambique National Meteorology Institute had predicted that peak rainfall would be between 400-500mm.
Basically, cyclone Freddy could cause so much rainfall in Mozambique which could lead to landslides.
Thousands of homes were damaged by the cyclone, and 1265km of roads were also destroyed.
More than 92,000 hectares of agricultural crops were also destroyed since the cyclone made its way into Mozambique.
This comes as the country is grappling with a Cholera outbreak and the possibility that the effects of the cyclone could worsen the situation are high.