Powerful Cyclone Freddy and Dangerous Ex-Cyclone Gabrielle – Tropical Weather Bulletin – February 12, 2023
Cyclone Gabrielle became extratropical yesterday, but still contains a lot of energy and enormous size as it reaches New Zealand today. The storm is expected to trouble the islands for the next three days, with the center only expected to pass tonight and tomorrow. Hurricane force winds are likely for parts of northern New Zealand, including the Auckland region, before the storm continues southeast and starts to weaken. Rainfall totals are expected to exceed 250mm, particularly along eastern coasts.
Elsewhere, Cyclone Freddy put on a show overnight, peaking and currently maintaining as a Category 4 on the Saffir Simpson Scale, with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The storm is moving further out to sea, away from Australia, and is not expected to impact land. Freddy will gradually weaken and may strengthen towards a second peak later next week, and then turn towards the south by the following week.
Cyclone Dingani is a small cyclone further out to sea over the Indian Ocean, and may achieve hurricane status later today.
An area of interest is currently located over the Gulf of Carpentaria, and has a 40% chance of developing into a tropical cyclone as it sloshes around in the Gulf, near the coast of Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia. The storm is not expected to become particularly strong, but large rain amounts reaching 400mm are likely for the region.
Watch our full Tropical Weather Bulletin using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Ewl4KXXRY
